President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has lifted the declaration of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao.
Citing the improved peace and order situation in the country’s southern region, Mr. Marcos issued Proclamation 298 which repealed a 2016 proclamation on the state of national emergency because of a “spate of violent and lawless acts across many parts of Mindanao.”
The President, through Proclamation 298, noted that lawless violence perpetrated by private armies and local warlords, bandits, criminal syndicates, terrorist groups, and religious extremists “have been significantly mitigated or reduced.”
“Through successful focused military and law enforcement operations and programs that promote sustainable and inclusive peace, the government has made significant gains in improving and restoring peace and order in the region,” the new proclamation read.
The President said lifting the state of national emergency would help boost economic activity and hasten the recovery of the local economy.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 55 on Sept. 4, 2016 after an explosion in Davao City killed 14 individuals and left more than 60 hurt.
Duterte, in his proclamation, cited lawless violence in Mindanao, including abductions, hostage-takings and murder of innocent civilians, the bombing of power transmission facilities, highway robberies and extortions, attacks on military outposts, assassinations of media people, and mass jailbreaks.
Proclamation 55 was also issued amid government intelligence reports about “credible threats of further terror attacks and other similar acts of violence by lawless elements in other parts of the country, including the metropolitan areas.”
