Lorenzana: DND submitted recommendation on martial law July 13

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday said it has already submitted its recommendation regarding the extension of martial law in Mindanao to President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

According to Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, the department submitted its position to Duterte on July 13, Thursday last week.

To recall, Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao for 60 days starting May 23, following continuous clashes between the military and ISIS-linked Maute group.

The martial law over the southern island group is scheduled to be lifted on Saturday, July 22.

The DND, however, did not give additional details on its recommendation.

"We will have to wait for the President's final decision on the matter. What I submitted to him was my recommendation from the security sector as Administrator of Martial Law in Mindanao after consulting with the CSAFP (Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) General Año," Lorenzana said.

"The President has a lot more to consider... I fully trust the President's judgment on this whether he considers my recommendations or not," he added.

Moving forward, Lorenzana said they have already started plans to rebuild war-torn Marawi City.

"While we have already begun laying the foundation for the reconstruction, recovery, and rehabilitation of Marawi City through community engagement, coordination with various agencies and making post disaster assessments, we earnestly look forward to the end of fighting because we want our Maranao brothers and sisters who have left their homes to go back, reconstitute their interrupted lives and partner with us on how we can best rebuild Marawi into a better and more beautiful city," he said.

“There is still a lot of work to do but I am very confident that together, as one nation, we can all help Marawi rise up from the ashes of conflict and be a better place," he added. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News