Dela Rosa also said he might recommend the declaration of nationwide martial law if his regional directors were in "unison" about the need for it, echoing Duterte's position that such declaration was an option for the government. If he says that he will declared martial law nationwide, by all means we have to support our commander-in-chief," Dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters. The Senate and the House overwhelmingly approved last week Duterte's request for an extension of martial law in Mindanao until Dec. 31, 2018. In asking Congress to lengthen the effectivity of martial law in Mindanao, Duterte cited the threats that Islamic State-inspired militants, local terrorists and communist militants posed to the country. An international rights group slammed that extension of martial law, saying that it was an "ominous move" that signaled more human rights abuses in the coming months.

Source: Philippine Star December 18, 2017 14:48 UTC