BAGUIO CITY — The local government officials here have expressed support to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao even as they lamented the death of a resident policeman in the ongoing conflict in Marawi City.
In a statement issued on May 26, Domogan expressed support for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s decision to place Mindanao under martial rule to counter the threat imposed by the Maute terror group.
“We support the action of the President in declaring Martial Law in Mindanao. We have full trust that the President had been supplied with sufficient facts that can justify the declaration of Martial Law in the said area,” Domogan said in the statement.
He is also hoping the declaration will decisively help end the violence spurred by the terrorist group.
“With the declaration of Martial Law, we hope that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) will quell and stop the lawless violence and rebellion in the said area to save from possible death and injuries innocent civilians and damage to properties,” he said.
Aside from Domogan, Baguio Councilor Joel Alangsab also conveyed a similar hope for Mindanao.
“Prayerfully it will bring an end to the terrorist groups operating in Mindanao within 60 days,” Alangsab said.
The 1987 Constitution allows the declaration of martial law in the entire or portions of the country by the President for a maximum of 60 days, unless extended by Congress. The President is also mandated by the Constitution to report on the declaration within 48 hours. Congress then has the prerogative to lift the order based on the report of the President.
“We are not as much worried as to its basis for anyway under the constitution, he (President) will report and explain to congress within a prescribed period the reasons why he declared Martial Law,” Domogan added.
As this developed, Domogan also lamented the death of a Baguio native who was killed in the violence in Marawi City where majority of the Maute terrorists have holed themselves since Tuesday.
Domogan was referring to the late Police Senior Inspector Fredie Solar who died while serving his country in Marawi.
“We are mourning for one of the casualties in the said lawless violence and rebellion is no less than Police Senior Inspector Fredie Solar from Baguio City,” Domogan said in the statement.
Solar graduated from the Philippine National Police Academy in Cavite under the Sansinirangan class of 2007. He was the intelligence unit chief of Marawi City police station at the time of his death.
According to reports, Solar was in front of the Amai Pakpak Medical Center on Tuesday on board a Mahindra police vehicle, when Maute extremists took him hostage.
The terrorists shot Solar several times upon learning he was a police officer. Sam Bautista/PNA-northboundasia.com