While there has been no proposal yet to extend martial law in Mindanao beyond December, Malacañang is not discounting the possibility of its extension if it will help maintain peace and order in the region.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said any extension of military rule would depend on the assessment and recommendation of the security sector, particularly the military and police commands in Mindanao.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Panelo said the military had underscored the role of martial law in helping improve the peace and order situation in the region in the aftermath of the siege of Marawi City by Islamic State-inspired jihadi groups.
Usual violence
He said martial law had “dissuaded the terrorists from inflicting the usual violence against the population.”
“If it is helping the population, and the population is not even opposing it, to my mind there is a need to extend it,” Panelo said.
The security sector, however, has not recommended an extension of martial law in Mindanao beyond Dec. 31, he added.
“There is a need to extend if, in particular, martial law would be helpful in maintaining peace and order. If it does not, why do we have to maintain it?” Panelo said.
He made the remarks a day after the first anniversary of the liberation of Marawi City from the Maute terrorist group, which battled government forces in the city for five months.
President Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law on May 23, 2017, following the attack on the city.
Marawi siege anniversary
He later extended martial law until the end of 2018 to allow the security sector to suppress lawless violence and rebellion in all parts of Mindanao.
Duterte missed the commemoration of Marawi City’ s liberation on Wednesday, as he had other activities scheduled in Malacañang.
Panelo said the President would still consider the recommendation of the military and the police on whether to lift or extend martial law in Mindanao.
“That will depend on the recommendation of the military. The President has always heeded the advice and recommendation of the military and police force. They are the ones who are knowledgeable on the conditions existing there,” Panelo said.