Palace says up to DND-AFP if martial law will go beyond 60 days

Will the martial law be extended after 60 days? Malacañang says it will depend on the recommendation of defense and military officials

“That will depend on the recommendation of the Secretary of National Defense, of the Armed Forces who are the implementors of martial law,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella at the Mindanao Hour in Davao City on Friday said.

Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana is the martial law administrator while Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año is its top implementor.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 216, declaring martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao, exactly a month ago while on an official visit in Russia.

The action was a response to the attack of Marawi City led by the ISIS-inspired Maute group on the same day the martial law was declared.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Sec. Datu Abul Khayr Dangcal Alonto, the first Muslim chairperson of the agency, expressed support for the extension of martial law.

“We are in fact, if this will not be resolved, even the extension, if it will be the recommendation of our Executive people though our martial law administrator, because Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and if they feel that there is a need to extend martial law, then we are asking for it,” Alonto said. 

“It must be extended so that we can solve this problem, it will not happen in your city,” he added. —NB, GMA News