Dela Rosa: Only “bad people” should fear nationwide martial law!

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said on Monday that, Peace-loving people would not need fear the declaration of martial law nationwide but ‘bad’ people should beware.

“Hindi ko sya papangunahan. Anyway, takot na takot ba kayo sa martial law? Punta kayo sa Mindanao tanong kayo sa mga tao run kung sila natatakot sa martial law. Wala man,” Dela Rosa told the reporters.

“My neighbors, friends, relatives will say wala namang pagbabago. Sa mga peace-loving people walang pagbabago kung may martial law o wala sa Mindanao. The same. Pero sa mga masasamang tao malaki ang epekto sa kanila,” Dela Rosa said.

“Their movements are restricted. Their diskarte is limited at karamihan sa kanila nagtatago. ‘Yun ang epekto ng martial law sa Mindanao,” he added.

But when pressed if he would recommend a martial rule nationwide, the PNP chief said he would assess first the situation and would wait for the recommendation of his subordinates.

“When my subordinates, my regional directors, ay mag-recommend sa akin na sir, mas maganda siguro i-martial law na natin. It is my obligation to recommend it to the President,” Dela Rosa said.

On the other hand, voting 240-27 without abstention in a joint session on Wednesday, Congress approved the extension of martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2018.