THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recommended the extension of martial law in the entire Mindanao because of the “many threats” still facing the region, its spokesman said on Friday. “The basis for the extension or the declaration of a martial law previously (is) the many threats that we still face in the island of Mindanao,” Brig. He also said that the military recommendation was to “similarly” back the Philippine National Police (PNP), which had proposed to President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial rule for a period of one year. Duterte declared a 60-day martial law in Mindanao on May 23 after militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) laid siege to Marawi City. After the retaking of Marawi last October, Duterte said he would await recommendation from the AFP and the PNP so that he could decide whether or not to keep Mindanao under martial law.

Source: Manila Times December 08, 2017 05:37 UTC