The claim of President Rodrigo Duterte that “rebellion persists in Mindanao” in order to justify the third extension of Proclamation No. 216 which imposed martial law in Southern Philippines was repudiated in a report by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence submitted a report to Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman on December 13, 2018 that for the entire second extension of martial law from January to December 2018, not a single person had been captured, arrested or charged with rebellion.

The report signed by Maj. Gen. Fernando Trinidad of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence documented that during the second extension only four (4) persons were apprehended but not one of them was charged with the crime of rebellion.

The arrested individuals were: (1) Abdelhakim Labdi Adibwho was charged with illegal possession of explosives; (2) Najiya Dilangalen Karon Mautewho was released for insufficiency of evidence; (3) Jamar Adbulla Mansulwho was released for lapse of period; and (4) Fehmi Lassquedwho is under inquest pending preliminary investigation for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The report also contradicted the claim of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr. who told the Joint Session of the Congress that during the second extension a total number of 143 individuals were arrested and all were charged with rebellion.

It is unmistakable that no one was apprehended or indicted for rebellion because in fact rebellion, which is an armed uprising against he government for the purpose of removing the country or a portion thereof from the allegiance to the Republic, does not actually exist.

There are no rebels, only terrorists and lawless elements who can be subdued by an overwhelmingly mighty combined forces of the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP), who do not need the extension of martial law to finish their job.

The report was annexed to the petition which seeks the nullification by the Supreme Court of the latest extension of 365 days.

Four (4) days after Maj. Gen. Trinidad submitted his report, he was reportedly replaced on December 17, 2018 by Brigadier General Pablo M. Lorenzo.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN