President Duterte will not seek another extension of martial law in Mindanao following the weakening of the terrorist rebellion in the south, Malacañang announced Tuesday.
The martial law, first imposed in 2017 after the Maute group-led terror siege in Marawi City, is expected to be lifted by the end of the year.
“The Office of the President wishes to announce that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is not extending martial law. It will expire on December 31, 2019,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said during a press conference in Malacañang.
“His decision is based on the assessment of the security forces as well as defense advisers that the terrorist and extremist rebellion have been weakened as a result of the capture or neutralization of their leaders as well as there has been decreased in index crime,” he said.
Despite the lifting of the martial law, Panelo assured that government forces are capable of dealing any security threats in the Mindanao.
“The people of Mindanao are rest assured that any major threat in Mindanao will be nipped in the bud,” he said.
The President made the decision after convening top security and defense officials during the joint Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-Philippine National Police (PNP) conference in Malacanang Monday night.
Asked if it was a unanimous recommendation from the security officials, Panelo said: “Yes. DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), PNP, National Security and defense advisers.”
Martial law has been in effect in Mindanao since the Marawi City siege by local terror elements in 2017. The martial law declaration, imposed by the President to quell the rebellion has been extended until the end of the year.
The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the third extension of martial law in the south this year. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
