No rebel arrests means rebellion in Mindanao persists, Palace says

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday described as "intellectually challenged" a claim by Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay) claim that there is no more rebellion in Mindanao because nobody has been indicted for rebellion.

Lagman, a member of the opposition, has claimed there is no need to extend martial law in Mindanao, disputing President Rodrigo Duterte's claim that rebellion persists in the island.  

According to Lagman, a military report submitted to Duterte stated that not a single person had been captured, arrested or charged with rebellion during the second extension of martial law.

He claimed no one was apprehended or indicted for rebellion because rebellion or an armed uprising that seeks to remove the country or a potion of it from allegiance to the Republic, does not exist. 

Lagman also argued that martial law is not needed because the combined forces of the military and police are enough to defeat terrorists and lawless elements. 

RELATED: Lagman to challenge proposed extension of martial law in Mindanao before SC

'Common sense'

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo disagreed, saying Mindanao should remain under martial law especially since no rebel was arrested. 
 
"If no arrest has been made on the rebels then with more reason martial law in Mindanao should continue because the rebellion continues. That should be common sense," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

The spokesman did not say why no rebels were arrested.

"If substantial or all of the rebels have been arrested then the rebellion has been crushed. That’s another common sense. The argument of Lagman not only is faulty but intellectually challenged," he added. 

Panelo expressed confidence that the legal challenges against the extension of martial law in Mindanao would not succeed. 

"The grounds cited by the opposition in opposing the third extension of Martial Law are more or less similar with the grounds cited the previous petition in opposing the second extension of Martial Law," the presidential spokesman said.  

"We are confident that the continuing  rebellion in Mindanao as well the demands of public safety requires the continued existence of martial law in that area, and the Supreme Court will upheld its continued imposition," he added. 

Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao after terrorists with ties to the Islamic State occupied Marawi on May 23, 2017. While Duterte declared the city free from terrorists five months later, he asked Congress to allow him to extend the military rule to address "rebellion" in Mindanao. 

Congress, which is dominated by Duterte's allies, has swiftly approved the extension of military rule in Mindanao three times.

The first extension lasted until Dec. 31, 2017 while the second one lapsed at the end of 2018. The third extension prolonged the military rule until the end of the year. 

READ: Palace: Travel to Mindanao ‘very safe’ despite UK, Australia advisories