Due to the improving security in the southern backdoor, top security officials have endorsed President Rodrigo Duterte the non-extension of martial law in Mindanao, which is to expire on Dec. 31.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said extending martial law in Mindanao for the third time seemed not necessary following the improved security situation, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police gaining the upper hand on all threat groups.
“Our security forces have determined that the purpose of implementing martial law has been attained and the prevailing conditions in the whole of Mindanao island as well as the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have greatly improved since the defeat of the Maute fighters in October 2017,” Lorenzana said.
“I just sent my recommendation today to the President recommending the non-extension of martial law in the whole of Mindanao,” Lorenzana said in an interview.
He said the AFP believed that the Maute Group and other threat groups could no longer launch a Marawi-type attack as their forces and capabilities had significantly dwindled.
Aside from holding the ASG and foreign jihadists at bay following their defeat by the military, troops had also made significant accomplishments against the New People’s Army.
“We've also made significant strides in combating the insurgency, with three Guerrilla Fronts and three Pulang Bagani Command cleared and dismantled, respectively,” Lorenzana said.
He expressed optimism that even without martial law, the government could still keep the peace.
“I think we can maintain the peace and improve it further, make it more peaceful without martial law, that there will be no more martial law," said Lorenzana.
President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao in 2017 to stop the terrorism in Marawi City following an attack by Islamic State-inspired terrorists led by the Abu Sayyaf Group and Maute Group.
