President Rodrigo Duterte will no longer extend martial law in Mindanao which is set to expire on December 31st.
“The Office of the President wishes to announce that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will not extend martial law in Mindanao upon its expiration on December 31, 2019,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Duterte made the decision following the assessment of his security and defense advisers of the weakening of the terrorist and extremist rebellion, a result of the capture or neutralization of their leaders, as well as the decrease in the crime index, among the factors considered.
“Contrary to the suppositions of the vocal minority on the proclamation of martial law in Mindanao, this decision of the President shows how he responds to the situation on the ground,” Panelo added.
Malacañang said that security forces are capable of suppressing violent and lawless forces even without Martial Law.
“The people of Mindanao are assured that any incipient major threat in the region would be nipped in the bud,” Panelo added.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said that he is no longer recommending the extension of martial law in the entire Mindanao.
The region has been under martial rule since 2017 after Maute terrorists siege the city of Marawi.
“It’s time to go back to normal” Lorena said in a text message sent to reporters.
He added that Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan will be part of the lifting of martial law in the area.
