Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted on Wednesday that he recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte not to extend Martial Law in Mindanao.
Lorenzana said his opposition to the extension was based on assessments from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National.
“I just sent my recommendation today to the President, recommending the non-extension of martial law in Mindanao, the whole of Mindanao,” he said.
The Martial Law declaration in Mindanao is due to expire on the end of the month. President Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under martial law after the Maute terror group attacked Marawi City in May 2017.
The declaration was supposed to last for only 60 days, but Duterte requested Congress to extend it three times.
“I was assured by the Armed Forces, the police that we have already accomplished what we need to do. With the situation there now, we believe we can maintain the peace and order and improve it further without martial law,” Lorenzana said.
Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio earlier admitted to not favoring the extension of martial law in Davao City “to attract more investors and tourists into the city”. She supports the view that martial law needs only to be implemented in areas under military rule and where peace and order is unstable and not on the entire island of Mindanao.
Lorenzana said the country’s security forces have succeeded in securing the peace and stability of the region, noting that lifting of military rule in Mindanao is good for business.
“It’s time to go back to normal. We can attract more investors,” Lorenzana said.
Lorenzana earlier said he would prefer Congress work to amend the Human Security Act and make it more effective against terrorism rather than having another extension of martial law.. (Rommel F. Lopez)