Lifting martial law will not have effect in Bangsamoro: Sobejana

November 12, 2019

A military official expressed belief lifting of martial law will not have much effect on the security situation within the areas under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

This was stressed by Lt Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the Western Mindanao Command chief, after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is no longer inclined to recommend another extension of martial law in southern Philippines.

“I think it will not have too much effect in case the martial law will not be extended in Bangsamoro region. We just have to continue our close coordination with the other members of the security sector, civil government and the community as a whole,” Sobejana said.

“We fully respect the wisdom of our Secretary of National Defense, We here on the ground we will submit our honest to goodness assessment on the security situation here in the area of responsibility of Western Mindanao Command being the commander… then after that we will wait for the final guidance of the national leadership on what will happen,” he added.

Sobejana added that the security situation in Western Mindanao is “manageable” and government forces are on the top of the situation.

“I should say that we are on top of the situation, the security situation is manageable especially now that our partners in civil government is very supportive and another thing is that the checkpoint and curfew that we enforce is now part of the way of life of our people here in Western Mindanao Command area of responsibility,” he said.

“I think the security measures that we implement here in Mindanao are now institutionalized among the people,” he added. Robina Asido/DMS