Bangon Marawi head backs martial law extension until rehab phase

Marawi City rehabilitation czar Eduardo del Rosario on Friday expressed support to extend martial law in Mindanao until the rehabilitation phase.

Reports of “massive recruitment” by Islamic State-inspired terror groups have prompted Del Rosario to support the move.

“I would like martial law to continue during the rehabilitation phase because as chairman of Task Force Bangon Marawi, my main concern is the security of the whole rehabilitation effort,” he told reporters in a press briefing.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, when Maute-ISIS members attacked Marawi City on the same day.

The 60-day promulgation ended on July 22 but was later extended by Congress until Dec. 31 this year.

Del Rosario said they have received intelligence reports that the local ISIS in Marawi City has been stepping up its efforts to recruit new members, offering money of up to P100,000 to potential members.

“We will be coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police so that we can properly assess and make the necessary recommendation to the President as to the extension or not of martial law in affected areas,” he said.

Lanao del Sur Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, who also backed the extension of martial law, stressed that the end of war does not mean the normalcy of peace and order.

“So, we fear that if the, you know, if we’ll probably be lenient about imposing security protocols, this might—the terror group—might use this as a portal to form and regroup again and then attack another town,” he said.

He said the group “will attack another town not necessarily Marawi City or Lanao del Sur.”/lzb