Marawi mayor welcomes extended martial law, says 500 ‘transitional shelters’ almost ready

Marawi Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra on Friday welcomed Congress' approval of President Rodrigo Duterte's request to extend the martial law imposition in Mindanao for another year.

Gandamra, in an Unang Balita interview, said they consulted with their constituents and local officials about Duterte's proposal to extend the martial law imposition, and that "mostly if not all were in favor" of it.

He said reports of the continuous recruitment by extremists and ambushes by communist rebels have necessitated the extension of the military rule in southern Philippines.

"Although liberated na ang Marawi from the war, may naririnig tayo na recruitment allegedly outside Marawi. That's the reason why ang may immediate na pangangailangan ma-address ang pangamba," he said.

The mayor allayed fears that the extension might only lead to possible rights abuses by the military.

"Noong mga nakaraang buwan noong ito ay dineklara... so far awala naman tayong nakikitang abuses, iyong sabi-sabi lang pero wala namang complaint na dinala especially on our end," he said.

He said the initial 500 temporary or "transitional shelters" for displaced residents are about to be finished and would be officially turned over to them by President Rodrigo Duterte within the month.

Gandamra said a total of 6,000 shelters are needed for Marawi. — MDM, GMA News