Manila Bulletin
Senators reject call for martial law in Mindanao after twin blasts in Sulu
Senators stated that declaring martial law in Sulu following the twin blasts in Jolo is unnecessary, especially with the recently enacted Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III cited the anti-terror law as sufficient to address terrorism, negating the need for martial law.
Senator Panfilo Lacson agreed, emphasizing the law's provisions should be enough and also noted the delay in the release of its implementing rules and regulations.
Senator Richard Gordon also believes martial law is not needed due to the significant military presence in Mindanao.
The twin blasts in Jolo, Sulu resulted in at least 16 deaths, including soldiers and civilians, and injured around 80 others.
Despite the senators' views, Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana recommended reimposing martial law to improve security and prevent perpetrators from escaping.
Topics in this story
Explore more stories about these topics.
🤖
This story was generated by AI to help you understand the key points. For more detailed coverage, please see the news articles from trusted media outlets below.
News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay stated that declaring martial law in Sulu is an option but immediate measures are needed to prevent terror attacks in Mindanao.
+2
Read more →
Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana has withdrawn his recommendation to place Sulu under martial law following recent bombings.
+1
Read more →
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima criticized Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa for supporting the declaration of martial law in Sulu.
Read more →
Senator Ronald dela Rosa emphasized that the recent deadly bombings in Jolo, Sulu, which resulted in at least 14 deaths and 75 injuries, serve as undeniable proof of the reality of terrorism.
Read more →