Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will not support the fourth extension of martial law in Mindanao.
The Defense chief yesterday confirmed that he has submitted his recommendation to President Duterte not to extend the military rule in the entire island region. “It is time to go back to normal,” Lorenzana said in a forum in Makati City.
Martial law in Mindanao has been in effect for two years. The island region was first placed under the military rule when Daesh-inspired Maute terrorist group laid siege on Marawi City last May 23, 2017. It has been extended for three times since then and will expire on Dec. 31, 2019.
It reached a point where the military has sent augmentation units in critical areas to enforce stricter security measures such as increased security checkpoints and curfew hours.
However, Lorenzana said that his decision not to extend the martial law was based on the assessment of the military itself, as well as the inputs of the police in the area, since the security situation in Mindanao has been stabilized.
This would mean that martial law would also be lifted in Basilan and Sulu – two provinces where terrorist and extremist groups like the Abu Sayyaf Group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have been notorious for their kidnappings, bombings, and other terror activities.
Lorenzana argued that the military has sustained its offensives to flush out the terrorist groups in the area. The most recent proof is the rescue of British businessman Allan Hyrons and his wife, Wilma, from their ASG terrorist captors in Sulu last month. (Martin Sadongdong)