DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The City Council on Tuesday, August 6, passed a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to lift Martial Law in Davao City.
The resolution, filed by Committee of Peace and Public chair Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta, said that despite the public support for Martial Law, “there are some effects on the city’s engagement in business, trade, and investments.”
The resolution was based by the recommendation of City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and was certified urgent by acting Vice Mayor Alberto Ungab.
It can be recalled Mayor Carpio reacted from a discussion with foreign ambassadors during a gathering at a Davao investment conference last June regarding the effects of Martial Law to investments.
Acosta added that consultations and assessment with law enforcers and state security, including the Davao City Police Office and the Philippine National Police, the Task Force Davao and the Armed Forces of the Philippines showed their support to lift Martial Law in the city.
The councilor also noted “a notable decrease in the city’s crime volume and crime rate and the considerable in crime solution efficiency due to the combined efforts of the Davao City police and the city government of Davao and other peacekeeping forces”.
Duterte implemented Martial Law on the Mindanao island last May 23, 2017 in response to a threat of an “ISIS-inspired Maute group” which was seen in Marawi City.
This group was decimated on October 2017, but Congress extended the Martial Law declaration despite its Constitutional limit of 60 days, for the year 2018, and again for 2019.
Military and defense officials changed tact, from saying fragments of the ISIS remained. They later added other threats including the communist movement. (davaotoday.com)
