Better intelligence, not martial law extension, needed vs terror activities

SENATOR PANFILO M. Lacson, a former police director general, on Monday dismissed martial law extension as a solution to address the recent bombings in the country but called instead for improved military intelligence operations. He said he also hoped the bombings were not linked to the recent signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BoL). “So I hope the explosions or bombings in Mindanao is not related to the BoL. Because of the passage of the BoL, I have said that this has become a vicious cycle that whenever you talk to the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), an armed group is being formed. Now, the government talked to the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), maybe there is another new armed group that the government did not talk to and it looks like it’s the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters),” he told reporters in a mix of Filipino and English. — Camille A. Aguinaldo