AFP mulls pushing ML extension

THE military on Friday did not discount the possibility of extending martial law in Mindanao if extremists continue to pose threats.

Major General Restituto Padilla Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson, assured the public that the state troops were exhausting all efforts to foil any potential terror attacks by Islamist fighters.

Padilla, however, noted that there are still terrorists inspired by the Islamic State who remain to be combative, a ground for possible extension of martial law in Mindanao,

anao, if not addressed by year-end. Martial law was declared in Mindanao on May 23, when fighting in Marawi broke out. Under the 1987 Constitution, the declaration was limited to 60 days.

But on the request of President Rodrigo Duterte, Congress extended it until December 31, 2017.

“We’re working towards that (lifting of martial law). We’re hoping to be able to address and normalize everything by the end of the year because that was the deadline given to us. But be that as it may, the network of the local terrorist groups still continue and this is the subject of our efforts,” he told a press conference.

“So if we are able to address that by the remaining days of November, as well as the whole month of December, we will report that to you and give justification for the lifting of martial law. If not, we will have to request the extension to be able to address the remaining threats in the area,” he added.

The whole of Mindanao was placed under 60-day martial law by President Rodrigo Duterte on May 23, after local and foreign fighters who pledged fealty to IS laid attack to Marawi City.

Duterte’s proclamation of one-man rule was extended by Congress until end of December this year to allow the government troops to “compeletely” quell insurgency in Marawi City.

The battle between the security forces and Jihadist terrorists took nearly five months before they were able to kill the frontrunners of the siege, alleged IS emir Isnilon Hapilon and Maute leader Omar Maute.

Exactly five months when the Marawi crisis erupted, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana declared that the war was over in the besieged city.

Since the declaration of end of Marawi armed conflict, Padilla said the military were last engaged in a firefight with extremists on November 5, which resulted in the killings of nine members of Maute group.

Padilla said that 41 of 96 villages in Marawi City were now “relatively unaffected” while the remaining areas will be subject to clearing operations.

He added that the implementation of martial law in Mindanao remained necessary to help the troops thwart any plans of Islamist fighters who seek to inflict violence in the war-torn city.

Padilla said the government was doing its best to restore peace and order in Marawi City, noting that the “road to normalcy, as we do clearing and security operations is bearing fruit.”

“We no longer sense or monitor any signs of life in the last main battle areas. But the clearing will continue,” the AFP spokesman said.

“At the rate, we are progressing. We are positive that we will be able to at least hand over the majority of the affected areas to those residents who would wish to come back,” he added. SunStar Philippines