The Magdalo party-list said that martial law in Mindanao and its extension were meant to "condition" the minds of Filipinos into thinking that military rule was ordinary and acceptable when it should not. "Just weeks after Congress approved the 1-year extension of martial law in Mindanao and we now have the PNP Chief insinuating and framing before the public as if martial law in Luzon and Visayas is also necessary," Magdalo said. Philippine National Police chief Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa said Monday that the country's cops would support Duterte, their commander-in-chief, should he decide to place the Philippines under martial law. Magdalo said that the inclusion of Maoist rebels, who have presence in many parts of the country, was meant to lay the ground for the declaration of military rule nationwide. Wittingly or unwittingly, Duterte will use the retaliatory strikes of NPA as justification to place the whole country under martial law," it said.

Source: Philippine Star December 19, 2017 11:26 UTC