President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday that the situation in the besieged city of Marawi remains “critical,” as he hinted that he might not lift his declaration of martial law in Mindanao before his second State of the Nation Address on July 24, or two days after the constitutionally-mandated 60-day limit ends on July 22.
In an interview at Iligan City, where he made an unannounced visit following failed attempts to reach Marawi due to bad weather, Duterte said that he has no plans to lift military law in Mindanao before his Sona on the fourth Monday of July.
“No … I consulted them and said it was critical. Those who can say that it isn’t critical anymore, it’s the Armed Forces and the police,” Duterte said.
Duterte reiterated that the duration of martial law in Mindanao rests on the recommendation of security forces, saying that they are more familiar with the situation on the ground.
“I do not have an independent study of what, how things are on the ground. It’s not my job. And I cannot do it physically even,” he said.
“So, I have just to rely on the word of the Armed Forces and the police because they are the one keeping this Republic healthy and alive.”
If they say that nothing’s wrong and everything is okay, then that is the time that we will lift the martial law. Otherwise.”
Both Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año and Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa had said they would recommend an extention of martial law if the Marawi crisis remained unresolved, and to possibly cover the rehabilitation phase in Marawi.
The military on Friday said that it is set to hand over its assessment on the implementation of martial law as early as next week, before it expires on July 22.
Although they are still assessing the situation in Marawi City, where government forces have been battling local terrorist groups since May 23, the military said there is a need to submit their recommendation to President Duterte before the 60th day of his declaration.
While he was on an official visit in Moscow, Duterte placed Mindanao under military rule and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao after the ISIS-inspired Maute group overran Marawi City.
Duterte recently scored a legal victory after the Supreme Court, voting 11-3-1, upheld the constitutionality of Proclamation No. 216, which declared martial law in Mindanao.
Rights group Karapatan on Saturday slammed the Supreme Court’s decision on Duterte’s martial law, saying that this only gives legal justification for more abuses.
“The Supreme Court’s affirmation of the constitutionality of Proclamation 216 brings about a dangerous precedent which could follow imposition of martial law on a national scope. Now, the AFP is juggling between which enemy best to present to the public to justify martial law’s continuation: the Maute group, the entire spectrum of Moro armed movements, the New People’s Army, indigenous and peasant communities, the entire Moro population, and the members and leaders of progressive groups and their families,” said Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay.
“Now, the military and police are acting like mad dogs, frenzied and on hyper-excited mode, in unleashing more fascist attacks against all those declared enemies of the State in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, laying the pretext for a nationwide martial rule,” she added.