Maute video convinced Lacson on need for martial law in Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 7): Maute video convinced Lacson on need for martial law in Mindanao

The video showing the Maute Group planning the Marawi City attack all the more convinced Sen. Panfilo Lacson that martial law in Mindanao was necessary.

“…This video footage, among other disclosures in the security briefing made by top security officials of the Duterte administration during our executive caucus, is what made me decide to vote in favor of the martial law proclamation in Mindanao,” Lacson said in a statement on Wednesday.

Lacson, former Philippine National Police chief, said that he also thought that lawmakers who opposed the martial law proclamation did not understand the situation of Mindanao island.

“…Our colleagues who still oppose the martial law proclamation either did not understand the gravity of the security threat posed by the rebellion in the south, or they are simply opposed to anything that President Duterte does or acts on,” he added.

Lacson was one of the senators who voted against holding a joint congressional session to deliberate on Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law declaration in Mindanao.

Others who voted against the resolution were Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Richard Gordon, Gringo Honasan, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Cynthia Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Last May 29, the Senate and some national security officials met in a close-door meeting to discuss martial law in Mindanao.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. were both present during the meeting.

Reports showed that the video offered a peek of the local terrorists' sketching out their plan to attack Marawi City on the back of a paper calendar.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994014