Duterte to lift martial law in Mindanao after threat of spillover ends

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he is going to lift martial law in Mindanao after the clearing operations in Marawi City and when there's no more threat of spillover.

Duterte made the remark during his fifth visit to Marawi City, according to Jun Veneracion's report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho."

“[Martial law] will be lifted any time after things are already — there’s a clean-up and we can make sure that it does not end with the physical fighting. There’s much to be done,” he said during his first press conference in Marawi.

“Yes, when it’s safe. The catch word is when it’s safe here in Mindanao… As long as it remains manageable and the police can take care of it,” he later added.

“I have to clean the place and watch out if there is going to be a spillover or any sympathetic group would initiate a trouble again,” Duterte continued.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella in his briefing on Friday said that it was the first time that the media were allowed to cover the visit, which was “an indication of the continuously improving conditions on the ground.”

According to Malacañang, Duterte talked to the government troops, distributed goods, and held a press conference.

He also said the end to the Marawi crisis was just "just around the corner."

The President also insisted that there would be no celebration once Marawi City would be liberated.

During his visit, Duterte also revealed a matrix of people who funded the Marawi siege as prepared by the military.

He said slain Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog was one of those who provided funds for the attack, along with politicians in Central Mindanao and drug lords.

The pro-ISIS Maute group attacked Marawi City on May 23, forcing Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao and cut short his official visit to Russia. The declaration was in effect for 60 days.

Congress, however, approved the extension of martial rule in Mindanao until the end of the year. — BAP/KVD/KG, GMA News