By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Reporter
MORE THAN HALF of respondents in a new survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said they support President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s martial rule in Mindanao, even as broad majorities oppose expanding martial law to the rest of the country.
The Second Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey found that among the 92% Filipinos who are aware of the declaration, 57% said it was the right decision while 29% said the proclamation should have been enforced only in Marawi City and the Mindanao province of Lanao del Sur.
The same survey also showed that 11% of the respondents want military rule implemented only in Marawi, Lanao del Sur, and the nearby provinces.
The polling group interviewed face-to-face 1,200 adults nationwide from June 23 to 26. The latest poll has sampling error margins of ±3 points for national percentages (±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao).
The same survey found that 67% of Filipinos disagreed that it should also be imposed in Luzon and 63% do not want martial law be extended to Visayas.
Awareness of Mr. Duterte’s martial law proclamation in Mindanao was highest in Mindanao at 98%, followed by Metro Manila at 93%, Visayas at 93%, and Balance Luzon at 88%, SWS said in its report.
Those who favored military rule in Mindanao is highest in that southern region at 64%.
Meanwhile, 58% of respondents living in urban areas want martial law in Mindanao while 56% of those residing in rural areas have the same sentiment.
Among classes, those who back martial law were the highest in classes ABC at 70%, followed by class E at 58%, and class D at 56%.
The second quarter SWS survey also concluded that 61% of men have thrown support behind Mr. Duterte’s decision to place Mindanao under martial law, compared to 53% among women.
By age group, it was at its peak among 55-year-olds and above at 68%, followed by 18 to 24-year-olds at 59%, 25 to 34-year-olds at 53%, 35 to 44-year-olds at 52%, and 45 to 54-year-olds at 51%.
Mr. Duterte’s martial law in Mindanao has the highest approval among college graduates at 70%, compared to the 57% among elementary graduates, 55% among non-elementary graduates, and 54% among high school graduates.
The SWS report also showed broad majorities, except in Mindanao, do not want martial law to be expanded to Visayas and Luzon.
Clashes between government forces and the pro-Islamic State (IS) Maute militants broke out in Marawi on May 23 — triggering what may be the biggest internal security crisis in the Philippines since the siege of Zamboanga City in 2013.
Mr. Duterte, in his Proclamation 216, declared martial law and enforced warrantless arrests over Mindanao on the first day of the battle to foil what he said was Maute’s plan to establish a caliphate for IS.
On May 24, Mr. Duterte floated the idea of putting the rest of the country under martial law to address possible terror spillover from Marawi City.
He has also maintained he wants the conflict to be over soon but his decision on whether or not to prolong martial law in Mindanao would depend on the recommendation of troops on the ground.
‘15 MORE DAYS’
In his speech during his first visit at the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Mr. Duterte said he needs “15 more days” to free Marawi from Islamist militants because the enemies remain well-equipped despite offensives by the military.
He added that Marawi will be “okay” by then, but did not say if the duration of martial law in Mindanao should be stretched.
“I need about 15 more days. Ang dahilan kasi ba’t nahirapan tayo, we knew that they were sorts — but ang hindi lang alam at baka na-miss-karami nang armas,” Mr. Duterte said. (I need about 15 more days. The reason why we’re having a hard time liberating the city is because although we knew about Maute’s terror plot, we did not know and we might have missed the fact that the enemy continued to stockpile weapons.)
The President earlier said the government knew about Maute’s plan to occupy Marawi even before the battle erupted.
Yet the urban warfare, despite being under a regime of martial law, has dragged on for seven weeks — surpassing the three-week siege of Zamboanga City in 2013.
Sought for comment, National Security Adviser, Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. said in a chance interview yesterday that Mr. Duterte’s deadline is an “indicative target” only.
The 1987 Constitution has set safeguards on martial law by limiting its enforcement to 60 days and allowing the Supreme Court and Congress to review the proclamation.
This is to prevent a repeat of the abuses under dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, who detained his critics during his martial rule and used this to stay in power for another 14 years. Mr. Marcos was overthrown in 1986 by a People Power revolution.
Voting 11-3-1, members of the High Court sitting in full court last week dismissed the consolidated petitions challenging the sufficiency of the factual basis of Mr. Duterte’s martial law declaration.
However, the court has yet to act on two other petitions filed against Proclamation No. 216 seeking to compel Congress to convene and deliberate on the declaration.
PNP CHIEF’S BRIEFING
For his part, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director-General Ronald M. dela Rosa said he and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo M. Año said on Tuesday they had “initial” discussions and “We are inclined for extension, hindi naman yung (but not really for) five years.”
Mr. Dela Rosa said offhand he prefers another 60 days, then another 60, depending on the situation.
“Kung tatanungin ako, sasabihin ko i-extend pa. Kung tatanungin ako,” he said. (If I were to be asked, I will say extend it. If I were to be asked.)
The PNP chief added he plans to draft a recommendation. According to Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito in a text message, “CPNP (PNP Chief dela Rosa) supports extension of martial law. They briefed us on prevailing situation.”
“Before we decide grant of extension for ML (martial law) in Mindanao, will still wait for the briefing by DND and AFP anytime soon,” Mr. Ejercito said, adding: “No commitment until finish security briefing from DND and AFP.”
In his interview with reporters, Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III said he is “okay” with House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez’s earlier proposal for five years of martial law, but added that the “extension of martial law must be requested by the President.”
“So, dapat sa kanya manggaling yung idea na kailangan ng extension hindi po galing sa kahit kanino,” Mr. Pimentel said. (So, the idea should come from [the President], not just from anyone.)
Mr. Pimentel said Mr. Alvarez, who drew criticism with his proposal, was merely “telegraphing” his “personal position.”
The Senate leader noted that he “would have to read the report (on martial law). What happened during the 60 days. The report will be given before 60 days. So what happened during the martial law implementation. What were achieved, then we measure this based on the goals from the start when martial law was declared. What would be the justification or the grounds for extending. (That’s when I will form my opinion) after I read this report.” — with Jil Danielle M. Caro and Mario M. Banzon