DILG, PNP brief senators on Marawi situation

Several senators on Tuesday met with Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy and Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa over the law and order situation in the country, including strife-torn Marawi City.

PNP chief Bato dela Rosa arrives at the Senate to join DILG Sec. Cuy on briefing SP Pimentel, other senators on PHL law and order situation pic.twitter.com/6IqQEO5B3d

— Kaecee Alvarez (@kaeceealvarez) July 11, 2017

In an interview, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said it was Cuy who requested for a briefing.

“He (Cuy) requested for an opportunity to brief me about Marawi law and order situation and I’ll take advantage of this meeting to ask about some law and order issues nationwide, about sa mga nababasa kong patayan,” Pimentel told reporters.

Pimentel, president of ruling PDP-Laban, clarified that the meeting with Cuy and Dela Rosa is different from the briefing to be given by security officials on the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

“The martial law briefing must be given by the martial law administrator who is the secretary of the Department of National Defense, and the martial law implementor, who is the AFP chief of staff, plus the National Security Adviser,” he said.

The security briefing has yet to be scheduled even as the 60-day martial law declaration is set to lapse in less than two weeks, or on July 22.

“If there is no intention to request for an extension, the martial law will lapse after 60 days so no need for briefing. But if they intend to ask, they better brief us,” Pimentel said.

Martial law was declared in Mindanao on May 23 after members of the pro-ISIS Maute group lay siege to Marawi City, holding civilians hostage and burning houses and establishments.

Government operations to flush out the remaining Maute members in Marawi City continue up to this day. —KBK/KVD, GMA News