Año open to lifting martial law in Mindanao areas

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Tuesday that he was open to the lifting of martial law in some sections of Mindanao though he claimed that there was clamor among local officials that martial rule stay in place.

"Kung ie-extend o hindi, it's too early for me to tell... I have to hear the assessment of the police and the military. But for me, I'm open to lifting martial law in some areas that we can say is safe, with stable peace and order," Año said in an exclusive interview on GMA's FYI with Richard Heydarian.

"But last week I was in Mindanao, talking to newly elected mayors. Discussion is about martial law and I told them that maybe you would be happy to hear that I'm open for lifting martial law in some areas here. All of them sabi 'Tuloy ang martial law," he added. "I think they're already tired of violence in Mindanao."

Año acknowledged that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) still had to coordinate with the local stakeholders to determine if martial law needed be extended yet again.

In May 2017, the Marawi siege prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao.

It has since been extended thrice by Congress, with the latest extension leaving martial law in place until December 31, 2019. — Dona Magsino/DVM, GMA News