Both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recommended that President Rodrigo Duterte extend martial law in the island of Mindanao for one more year.
In a report by Rappler, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Public Information Assitant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said yesterday that they endorsed the PNP’s recommendation to extend military rule.
According to the PNP, this will help rehabilitate Marawi City, which was attacked by the Islamic State-linked Maute group in May, sparking an almost five-month-long war. The PNP also recommended the extension because they believe threat from the terrorist groups continues.
During a briefing in the presidential palace earlier today, AFP spokesperson Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that the military has a similar recommendation.
“As I am concerned, there is a recommendation to similarly support the recommendation of the Philippine National Police,” he said.
But Padilla added that he is not privy to the entire report and cannot discuss it further until a final decision has been made.
Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao last May after the Maute group attacked Marawi City.
Although the Philippine constitution stipulates a 60-day limit for martial law, in July, Congress voted to extend it until the end of this year.
In October, Duterte announced that Marawi had been liberated from terrorists after more than 1,000 people, mostly terrorists, died.
The heads of the Maute group were killed in Marawi in September and October.
Some Filipinos fear the possibility of a nationwide martial law similar to the one declared by dictator Ferdinand Marcos 45 years ago but Duterte has said that he does not plan to do this.
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