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Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana is the new Commander General of the Philippine Army. WESMINCOM
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana withdrew his recommendation to declare martial law in Sulu on Sunday, noting there may be better options to end terrorist attacks.
“I leave my recommendation for ML’s statement on Sulu despite the confusion, as there could be other better options,” the senior military official said in a statement to reporters.
“Furthermore, I always give due respect to the wisdom of our national leadership and the sentiment of the general public, but I felt it appropriate to share with you that the military had shown the utmost professionalism and maturity during our implementation of ML (martial law ) in Sulu. when I was the Sulu Commander of the JTF (Joint Task Force) in 2017, ”he added.
Sobejana previously expressed concern over the recent bombings in Jolo and said that she will recommend the declaration of martial law and a state of emergency in Sulu to suppress terrorist movements after two explosions occurred in the capital city of Jolo on the 24th. last August.
In this photo provided by the Philippine Red Cross, soldiers secure an area after two explosions struck Jolo City, Sulu Province, in the southern Philippines on Monday, August 24, 2020. Bombs exploded in the a city in the southern Philippines on Monday, killing several soldiers and wounding other military and civilians despite strict security measures due to threats from Abu Sayyaf militants. (Philippine National Red Cross via AP)
The Philippine National Police endorsed Sobejana’s recommendation.
The military official also highlighted the “substantial progress” of the security forces, such as the reduction of kidnapping victims from 54 to three, as well as the delivery of more than a hundred bandits from the Abu Sayyaf Group.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed all of Mindanao under martial law when the Maute terror group besieged the city of Marawi in 2017.
Mindanao’s martial law went into effect for 60 days and expired on December 31, 2019 after Congress extended it twice.
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