By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. expressed his support for the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, in light of the recent attack in Marawi City perpetrated by members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Maute Group.
“I fully support the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte and I urge other LGUs (local government units) to support it and cooperate,” Marañon stated.
He added, the move was “long overdue” and should have been imposed long ago in order quell the rebellion of various terror groups.
When asked about the possible implication on investment into the country, the governor said he is confident it will only be limited to Mindanao and not the other islands.
Marañon said he has yet to be briefed by the Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) regarding the situation in Mindanao, although he has told residents of the province to remain calm and vigilant.
The governor also urged residents to report any suspicious individuals, including those who sympathize with terror groups, to the proper authorities.
However, Marañon also pointed out, both the police and the armed forces should exercise restraint and respect human rights.
According to reports from various media outlets, law enforcement officers were supposed to hand over an arrest warrant for terror leader Isnilon Hapilon, after he was tracked down in the city.
However, government forces were fired upon and several sympathizers took up arms and began taking key areas in the city.
Both the ASG and Maute Group declared allegiance to Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi last year, with the two groups aiming to establish a “wilayat,” or province, in the Philippines.
After Duterte declared the entire island of Mindanao under martial rule as of 10:00 p.m. Tuesday night, the Makabayan bloc in Congress expressed their opposition.
As of press time, the president hinted at the possibility of placing the Visayas under Martial Law, saying, the island group is only “walking distance” from Mindanao./WDJ