Duterte to ponder deeply on possibility of declaring martial law in Mindanao

President Rodrigo Duterte on early Tuesday morning said he would carefully review the possibility of declaring martial law in Mindanao, especially Sulu.

At a press conference in Davao City upon his arrival from China, Duterte was informed about Save Sulu Movement's call for the President to put the area under military rule because of the atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

"I need time to ponder on it deeply. It is not only a political decision; it is an emotional decision. You do not tinker with the extraordinary powers of the state," he said.

"I'm warning everybody, if I declare martial law, there's no telling how long it would be and for what purpose," he added.

Duterte reiterated that he would solve all the problems in Mindanao if he would declare martial law.

"If I do, I would solve not only rebellion, I will solve everything that ails Mindanao. Pati iyan boundary sa lupa mo," he said.

"I will not tinker with it as if it's a play thing. It's a very serious one," he added.

The military is monitoring at least 16 foreign terrorists in Mindanao who are operating with members of the Maute Group, the Abu Sayyaf, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Military officials said the foreign terrorists — Malaysians and Indonesians — were monitored in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao provinces.

In April, the military's Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) heightened its alert level to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from conducting diversionary tactics in the area after suffering a setback in Inabanga, Bohol.

In a press statement, Maj. Ezra Balagtey, EastMinCom public information office chief, said the heightened alert was also to prevent the communist New People’s Army (NPA) from taking advantage of the situation in Bohol.

In January, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana said the Armed Forces of the Philippines intends to defeat local terrorist groups—the Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters—within six months.

He said this is part of Duterte's instruction. —KG, GMA News