Palace to announce AFP’s martial law recommendation on Monday

MANILA, Philippines — With the military’s recommendation set to be revealed next week, Malacañang on Saturday hinted at a possible extension of martial law in Mindanao, saying such an environment is needed for the recovery of war-torn Marawi City.

On May 23, President Rodrigo Duterte placed entire region of Mindanao under martial law after Marawi City was stormed by heavily-armed homegrown militants who pledged allegiance to the dreaded Islamic State.

Congress overwhelmingly later voted to retain martial law in Mindanao until yearend after the proclamation reached its 60-day constitutional limit in July, giving Duterte more time to stabilize the strife-torn region where ISIS was gaining influence.

In a press conference, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte this week will receive the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ recommendation on whether military rule in Mindanao must be prolonged.

The AFP’s proposal will be announced verbatim on Monday, Roque said, adding that the president will decide on the matter just before Congress goes on break this month.

Despite Marawi’s liberation, the threat of terrorism remains, the Palace spokesman also said.

“Makakatulong po ang martial law sa tingin ko ngayon doon sa proseso ng pagbabangon ng Marawi (Martial law, I think, will help in the process of reviving Marawi),” Roque said.

“Well, anyway, I do not want to preempt the recommendation of the Armed Forces and I do not want to preempt any decision made by the government,” he added.

“But those involved in task force Bangon Marawi, I think, they will feel safer if the president will exercise his power as commander-in-chief.”

READ: Palace: AFP's recommendation on possible martial law extension 'accepted'

The restive island of Mindanao has long history of Muslim separatist rebellion.

In a rousing address to troops last October, Duterte declared Marawi City—the only predominantly Muslim city in the mainly Catholic Philippines—liberated from pro-ISIS extremists after two terrorist leaders were killed in a targeted military operation.

Four days after the president’s announcement, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana declared an end to combat operations in the besieged city after five months of fighting that gave state forces their first taste of urban warfare.

But experts have warned that the end to the 148-day Marawi occupation does not finish to the crisis in the southern Philippines as militants could radicalize those who were displaced by the fighting.

AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. earlier said the military might request to extend martial law in Mindanao even after Marawi City was liberated in order to defeat other militant groups in Mindanao.

According to Task Force Bangon Marawi chairman Eduardo del Rosario and Lanao del Sur Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, extremist groups continue to recruit followers in Mindanao in a bid to establish an Islamic State caliphate in the region.

Adiong and Del Rosario also cited serious security threats that would justify another extension of martial law.

“So, I guess, it’s a matter of necessity and protecting the civilians that would be – we put primacy as far as the national government would decide whether they will lift martial law or they will maintain the imposition of martial law in Mindanao,” said Del Rosario, a former military general.

READ: IS recruiting again; martial law extension eyed

Martial law remains a sensitive issue in the Philippines after it was used by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s to perpetuate himself to power.

Opponents feared Duterte might declare a nationwide martial law, but the authorities have repeatedly dismissed that.