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Duterte cites ISIS, communist threats in seeking 1-yr extension of Mindanao martial law


President Rodrigo Duterte justified his request for Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao for a year by citing threats from ISIS-inspired groups and the communists.

In his letter addressed to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez dated December 8, Duterte said martial law administrator Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana recommended a one-year extension of the martial law to “ensure total eradication of the DAESH-inspired Da’awatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masriq (DIWM), other like-minded local and foreign terror groups and armed lawless groups, the communist terrorists and their coddlers, supporters, and financiers.”

Duterte wants martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao to be extended until December 31, 2018.

He said the recommendation was based on the security assessment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which was supported by the separate evaluation of the Philippine National Police.

"Public safety indubitably requires such further extension, not only for the sake of security and public order, but more importantly to enable the government and the people of Mindanao to pursue the bigger task of rehabilitation and the promotion of a stable socio-economic growth and development," the President wrote.

Duterte said remnants of the groups of the Maute brothers and Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon have started recruiting and training new fighters. Members and allies of the DIWM, for instance, were monitored continuing their efforts in regrouping in Maguindanao and North Cotabato as well as Sulu and Basilan, geared to establish a wilayat in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

The President also cited the Turaifie Group, which was allegedly monitored planning bombings in the Cotabato area. He said that Turaifie is believed to be Hapilon's potential successor as ISIS emir in Southeast Asia.

Duterte also mentioned the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Abu Sayyaf group attacks in the letter.

Duterte also pointed out the threat of the New People's Army, which he said took advantage of the situation in Mindanao and intensified its "terrorist acts." In his letter, the President listed down the NPA's activities against the government. 

"These recent developments involving the NDF-CPP-NPA forebode another year of intensified armed hostilities which, together with other security concerns described above, continue to make Mindanao the hotbed of rebellion," he said.

Duterte recently formalized his intention to tag the NPA as a terrorist group through Proclamation No. 374.

Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 after the ISIS-inspired Maute group led by the Maute brothers with the aid of Hapilon attacked Marawi City.

It was supposed to after 60 days, but Congress approved Duterte's request to extend martial law until December 31.

 

 

 

 

 


—ALG, GMA News

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