No change in recommending lifting martial law in Mindanao despite Sunday’s blasts: PNP

December 23, 2019

Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said there will be no changes in their recommendation on the extension of martial law despite Sunday night's  bombing attacks in Cotabato City.

“As of yet those explosions have not disturbed our previous recommendation that the martial law- we haven't changed our previous stand for martial law, still our recommendation is to end it by December 31 of this year,” Gamboa said in a press briefing.

“If you can see the targets of the explosions, it had not really inflicted that much casualty required for a very strong statement of those who did it. So basically what we are telling our troops is be extra alert and make yourselves a hard target… if possible, let’s be offensive (and) apply for search warrants or warrants of arrest on possible groups who are possibly perpetrating this. But generally, Mindanao is still peaceful,” he said.

Gamboa said the separate explosions in Cotabato last night prompted PNP units in the area to step-up target-hardening measures to protect soft targets, vital government installations and public establishments against similar hostilities.

“Mindanao is still under still under martial law with all six Mindanao-based PNP units on constant alert in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

Gamboa said investigations are underway to identify the suspects behind these explosions.

Gamboa said they cannot conclude for now if the explosions were meant to sabotage the unilateral ceasefire agreed upon by the government and  communist rebels.

“We cannot also conclude that it has something to do with CPP-NPA-NDF faction or forces that have perpetrated these bombings. There are no conclusive facts that would determine it is so,” he said.

He said the PNP is on full alert status all throughout the country and assured the public they will be safe especially now that it’s the Yuletide season.

“We are assuring the public that the PNP will always be here to protect you even this Yuletide season despite the explosion that had happened in Mindanao rest assured that the PNP is doing its best effort to identify the perpetrators and possibly prevent those things from happening again in the next few days or for the Yuletide season,” he said.

He also encouraged the public to give authorities any information that will help the investigation.

“Rest assured that our forces are intact and full alert and we are here to protect you but I encourage the community to also help us. Any information that could lead to investigation or could lead to preemptive actions on the part of the PNP we would like to encourage the public to help us," he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS