Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. FILE PHOTO/MALACANANG
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday vowed that the military would crack down “decisively and expeditiously” against rebels a day after Congress approved overwhelmingly the extension of martial law in Mindanao through the end of the year.
Lorenzana did not elaborate in a statement but the scope of the “key tasks” of the military’s operational directive to implement martial law included “degrading armed capabilities of the New People’s Army” and the dismantling of “other terror-linked private armed groups, illegal drug syndicates, peace spoilers and other lawless armed groups.”
Mr. Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under martial rule on May 23 to give the military greater elbow room to deal with the Islamic State-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Marawi City.
Last week, the President scuttled peace talks with the communists following stepped up attacks by New People’s Army guerrillas on several fronts.
After a two-month military campaign in Marawi, nearly 600 are dead: 114 government security forces; 45 civilians; and 428 enemies, according to the latest figures released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday.
“With the overwhelming vote of confidence from our legislature and the ardent support of the Filipino people, your defense department will strive even more to deal with the rebellion decisively and expeditiously,” Lorenzana said.
He also called on those “who have lost their way” to return to government fold.
“This government is giving us the opportunity to grow in an honorable way. But if you persist in your crooked ways, the Armed Forces and the police will come after you without let up,” Lorenzana said.