By: Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is not discounting the possibility of seeking an extension of martial law in Mindanao to address the remaining threats to security on the island.
The AFP confirmed that there are still threats to security posed by other armed groups on the island and unexploded ordnance in Marawi City that impede the return of its citizens.
AFP spokesperson Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that martial law is still being implemented in some parts of Mindanao through checkpoints to address possible emergence of armed groups.
“In other parts of Mindanao, the implementation of martial law continues with the maintenance of checkpoints in key areas to address any possible movements of private armed groups, armed elements, lawless individuals, and other threats to the security and peace that we have,” he said during the Bangon Marawi press briefing in Malacañang yesterday.
“We will continuously work together united in the objective of ensuring that our cities remain safe for the rest of the year, not only for the period that we have been given for the implantation of martial law but always 24/7,” Padilla added.
According to Padilla, the situation in Marawi is starting to normalize but said the implementation of martial law is helping expedite the process, especially in the clearing of 36 more barangays in the city.
“At the rate we are progressing, we are positive that we will be able to at least hand over the majority of the affected areas to those residents who would wish to come back,” he said.
Padilla said they are also trying to finish the operations within the remaining period of martial law. “We’re working towards that. We’re hoping to be able to address and normalize everything by the end of the year because that was the deadline given to us,” he said.
“But be that as it may, the network of the local terrorist groups still continues and this is the subject of our efforts. So if we are able to address that by December, then we will report that to you and give justification for the lifting of martial law,” he added.