Martial law in Mindanao needed until year end —Padilla

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Major General Restituto Padilla on Sunday said that martial law in Mindanao is still needed until the end of the year, despite the deaths of top terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute, and Malaysian Dr. Mahmud Ahmad in Marawi City.

"Kinakailangan pa po natin ito hanggang sa katapusan ng taon at sisikapin nating magawa lahat ng kinakailngan upang ma-address lahat ng natitira pang networks ng mga terrorist groups na ito," Padilla told radio dzBB.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that martial law in Mindanao would not be lifted until the government has neutralized all terrorists in the region.

Likewise, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella had said that martial law was still needed due to the "remnants" of supporters of the armed extremist groups.

Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 after the ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked Marawi City.

Seeing that the battle to liberate Marawi was not easy as earlier expected, Duterte requested for martial law extension until December 31, which Congress granted.

Duterte declared Marawi City liberated from the Maute terrorists on October 16, after the government troops killed top terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Oman Maute. —LBG, GMA News