Lorenzana recommends non-extension of martial law in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said he has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte to no longer extend martial law in Mindanao.

“I just sent my recommendation today to the President recommending the non-extension of martial law in Mindanao,” he disclosed in a forum hosted by the Manila Overseas Press Club in Makati City.

Martial law in Mindanao will expire on December 31, 2019, after being extended by Congress thrice since 2017.

Lawmakers will decide again before the end of the year whether or not to extend martial law in the southern region.

Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under martial law in May 2017 after ISIS-inspired terrorists – Maute group – laid siege on Marawi City.

Lorenzana said he was assured by the military and police that they have already accomplished what needs to be done under martial law.

“With the situation there now, I think we can maintain the peace and order and improve it further, make it more peaceful without martial law…Personally I believe we have achieved our objective,” he said.

He said other countries have been concerned with the situation in Mindanao even if it was “so mild” compared to the martial law in the 1970s.

“It’s time to go back to normal so that we can attract more investors because there was this big investor from Japan who was about to put up a steel mill… but when we declared martial law they pulled out,” he said.

Lorenzana said they are also “succeeding” in their fight against Islamic State-linked groups in Mindanao like the Abu Sayyaf.

“The only remaining substantial group is in Jolo province but that also we are succeeding. Last week, there was this encounter that killed five of them and we were able to recover the British couple,” he said.

He said the military is still running after three Indonesian captives of the Abu Sayyaf.

“The operations go on in the island. We have seven battalions of Marines and Army troops (there),” he said.

Edited by KGA