No more martial law in Mindanao in 2020MANILA, Philippines — After more than two years of martial law in Mindanao, President Duterte is expected to lift military control over the southern Philippines as a sign of returning “normalcy” in the region. The scheduled lifting of martial law in Mindanao comes more than two years after the Maute group’s siege in Marawi City and after the President’s order to place Mindanao under military control to counter terrorists and other threats, including communist insurgency. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the President’s daughter, was among the local officials in Mindanao who have sought the lifting of martial law in the South. Martial law in Mindanao started when terrorist groups led by the Islamic State-linked Maute group seized Marawi City in May 2017. President Duterte initially declared martial law only in the region to contain the problem but eventually expanded it to the whole of Mindanao.

Source: Philippine Star December 24, 2019 17:03 UTC