Lorenzana nixes fourth Mindanao martial law extension

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 04 Dec 2019 06:45:12 +0000

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will not support the fourth extension of martial law in Mindanao.

The Defense chief yesterday confirmed that he has submitted his recommendation to President Duterte not to extend the military rule in the entire island region. “It is time to go back to normal,” Lorenzana said in a forum in Makati City.

Martial law in Mindanao has been in effect for two years. The island region was first placed under the military rule when Daesh-inspired Maute terrorist group laid siege on Marawi City last May 23, 2017. It has been extended  for three times since then and will expire on Dec. 31, 2019.

It reached a point where the military has sent augmentation units in critical areas to enforce stricter security measures such as increased security checkpoints and curfew hours.

However, Lorenzana said that his decision not to extend the martial law was based on the assessment of the military itself, as well as the inputs of the police in the area, since the security situation in
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