Philippines: Martial law may not be lifted even after Marawi conflict – 2 Sep 2017

  • As the battle for Marawi City draws to a close, President Duterte sees no reason to lift martial law in Mindanao, citing the possibility that the violence would spill over to other areas of the region.
  • “I was thinking that we could, you know, lift it earlier, but the way it looks, there is a spillover of violence in the ARMM and Buldon,” Duterte said, mentioning the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and Buldon, Maguindanao.
  • Duterte said he is leaving it up to the military to decide how it would end the fighting in Marawi.
  • “Mind you, when I said I leave it to the military to solve the problem, that’s it. I will not meddle anymore, except that I advised them not to pepper the mosques,” he said.
  • Earlier in the day, Duterte said the military operations have entered the “final stage” and he sees an end to the fighting.
  • Duterte said he wants to immediately start the rehabilitation of Marawi City to allow the thousands of displaced families to return to their communities.
  • Duterte also revealed he has sent an emissary to reach out to the terrorists and negotiate the release of the remaining hostages.

External Link : http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/09/02/1735017/martial-law-may-not-be-lifted-even-after-marawi-conflict

2-Sep-2017