Sen. Zubiri dares martial law critics: "Sagot ko pamasahe niyo puntang Marawi, kausapin niyo yung Maute group"

Senator  Juan Miguel Zubiri challenged  the people who are against Martial Law to personally visit Marawi City so they can witness the real situation there and be convinced why the government needs to enforce such in Mindanao.

In an interview with DZBB, Zubiri said that he would shoulder all the expenses of the anti-martial law critics just to get them to Marawi and  have talk with Maute group.

“Ang hamon ko nga sa kanila, itong mga hindi sumasang-ayon at sumisigaw po sa telebisyon na pumunta po sa Marawi. Kung gusto nilang pumunta ng Marawi bibigyan ko sila ng tiket, pamasahe. Bibigyan ko sila ng sasakyan para pumunta sa Marawi at kausapin yung Maute group, kung gusto nilang kausapin yung Maute group,” said Zubiri.

(My challenge to them, these people who disagree and keep shouting on television please visit Marawi. If they want to go Marawi, I will give them tickets, fare. I will provide vehicle for them to go to Marawi and talk to Maute group, if they want to talk to Maute group.)

The senator believes it is impossible now to convince the Maute group to lay down their arms and to surrender to authorities.

“Titingnan natin kung makalabas po sila ng buhay dun sa mga lugar na iyon dahil itong mga kalaban na ito napakahirap kausapin at halos imposible na po dahil ang gusto nila mamatay na tayong lahat,” he stressed.

(Let's see if they could get out alive in that area because these terrorists are hard and almost impossible to talk because they want us all to die.)

Zubiri also challenged his colleague Senator Risa Hontiveros to visit Mindanao to personally see the situation in the region where martial law rules for the time being.

Risa Hontiveros is one of the public officials who opposed the declaration of martial law.

According to her, the actions perpetrated by the Maute group in Marawi City cannot be considered rebellion nor invasion so there's no reason for the President to declare martial law.

However, majority of the senators have expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao, and they said the declaration is "satisfactory, constitutional, and in accordance with the law."

Meanwhile, five senators from the minority bloc, namely Pangilinan, Drilon, Hontiveros, Aquino, and Trillanes filed a resolution to convene Congress in a joint session and discuss the declaration and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

Source: ABANTE TONITE