President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a press conference at the Malacañan Palace on November 19, 2019. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The extension of martial law in Mindanao would depend on the recommendation of the police and the military, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday night.
“I will leave it to the military and the police to make the recommendation. Martial law is a military thing and it’s their assessment or their evaluation of the Mindanao situation,” Duterte said in a hastily called press briefing in Malacañang.
On November 11, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he was not inclined to recommend another martial law extension in Mindanao.
But Duterte said he has not received any formal recommendation from the police and the military.
“If the Defense Secretary says that it’s no longer needed, I’ll wait also for the statement of the military and the police. Then I will decide,” he said.
The President declared martial law in the entire Mindanao on May 23, 2017, after the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group attacked Marawi City.
Initially, Mindanao’s martial law was valid for 60 days but Duterte has succeeded in asking Congress to extend it three times.