If Human Security Act is amended, no need for martial law: Esperon

July 31, 2019

If the Human Security Act will be amended, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said there's no need for martial law.

In a forum in Manila on Wednesday, Esperon said he will recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte the extension of martial law in Mindanao, saying it will help the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and stop armed and terrorists  in Mindanao.

“If I am to recommend, I want it to continue,” he said.

“Number one, I want to shepherd further the growth of Bangsamoro Transition Authority now that Abu Sayyaf Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Maute are still there. Second, is I want to stop these armed groups and we don’t want them to have so much freedom moving around. Third, I want to address the CPP-NPA which mostly affects the eastern half of Mindanao,” he explained.

Esperon said he will go for it as martial law gives law enforcement agencies a maximum of three-day detention period.

But he said if Congress will amend the Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act, there is no need for martial law in the country.

“I will go for it but if we can have an amended Human Security Act... then we may not have martial law,” said Esperon.

Esperon cited countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia who can detain any person on mere suspicion alone.

“We have weak counter terrorism and anti-terrorism (program) when we all know that terrorist(s) are active here in the Philippines,” he said.

“I wonder why we don’t want to improve our Human Security Act so our law enforcers will not be afraid to implement the law,” he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP)  said the act is “somewhat advantageous for law enforcers.

Police General Oscar Albayalde, the PNP head, explained that under the provisions you have to inform a person that you will conduct a surveillance to them and once you failed, you have to pay the person P500,000.

"Our law enforcers are pitiful that's why even our foreign counterparts have comments on our Human Security Act. It's as if (it is) even protecting a criminal," he said.

Martial law in Mindanao, which was declared during the 2017 Marawi siege,  is set to end in December 2019. Ella Dionisio/DMS