Okay to lift Martial Law in Mindanao- PNP

As the situation of peace and order gets better, it is unlikely that the Philippine National Police will even recommend extending martial law throughout Mindanao, which will end on December 31 of this year.

According to PNP Spokesman Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP supported Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s statement that Martial Law could be lifted.

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“Napakaganda na ng peace and order situation sa buong kapuluan ng Mindanao. Ang hinihintay na lamang natin ay dumating ang buwan ng Disyembre para tayo’y makapagbigay na rin ng opisyal na rekomendasyon,” said Banac.

(The peace and order situation throughout the Mindanao archipelago has been wonderful. We are just waiting for the month of December to come up with an official recommendation.)

“Sa ngayon, nakikita natin na maaari na rin tala­gang tanggalin ang martial law sa buong kapuluan ng Mindanao,” the official added.

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Banac also emphasized that criminality in Mindanao was put to order where security forces managed to control and prevent the spread of loose firearms or unlicensed firearms in the region.

On May 23, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte put Mindanao under Martial Law after the Maute-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) sowed terrorism in which the crisis lasted for five months. Martial law has been extended three times throughout the region.