Zubiri wants martial law in Mindanao to continue until year-end

For Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, the state of martial law in Mindanao should continue until the end of the year even as President Rodrigo Duterte himself has declared that Marawi City is already free from terrorists.

This, in order to ensure the safety of displaced residents returning to the city during its reconstruction and rehabilitation.

In a radio dzBB interview on Sunday, Zubiri expressed his support for the continuation of martial law in Mindanao until December 31, as approved by Congress.

"For the protection of our construction and rehabilitation volunteers and members, kailangan po manatili siguro ang martial law under December 31," he said.

Zubiri feared that once martial law is lifted in Mindanao, the security network in Marawi City will decrease, making the returning residents of the city prone to improvised explosive devices still possibly lying around.

"One of the problems that happens still during the rehabilitation yung pag-clean up nitong mga lugar na may explosive devices. May danger pa e," he said.

"Kapag na-lift na natin yung martial law, hindi na natin mapipigil yung mga kababayan natin na umuwi by tens of thousands, tapos maririnig natin sa news na 'Pamilya patay dahil sa explosive device.' Lives are at stake here," he added.

Zubiri said that martial law will eventually lapse by December 31, unless there are other circumstances needing for its extension.

"In the meantime, yung cleanup operations dito sa Marawi City, yung paghabol dito sa 10 naiiwan na terorista sa lugar ay maging priority ng ating agencies and the rehab." 

"Ayaw na ayaw po natin na magkaroon ng breeding ground ulit ng dissent and terorismo dahil sa pagbagal ng gobyerno ng tulong," he added.

Duterte placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law on May 23 after the ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked Marawi City.

On Tuesday, Duterte declared Marawi City liberated from terrorists, following the death of terror leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute. —LBG,GMA News