Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted before the joint session of Congress on Wednesday that they have not completely stamped out rebellion in Mindanao in a bid to convince lawmakers to grant the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial law in the entire region for another year.
“They are actively recruiting some of Muslim youth in the area. That is what we are saying, rebellion has not stopped it just moved to another place,” Lorenzana said.
Congress held a joint session to tackle the martial law extension request at the House of Representatives.
“The situation in Marawi has substantially changed from the time we are fighting ISIS-inspired Maute. So now there is post-conflict assessment conducted as (the) situation developed,” he also said.
Lorenzana made this remark in response to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon’s questioning on the basis of the extension of martial law in Mindanao.
Drilon said there is no more actual state of rebellion in the region at this point but just mere threats.
“These are only threats at this point. Actual conflict is the basic foundation for the continued imposition of martial law,” he pointed out. /kga