THE imposition of martial law in Mindanao may continue even after the Marawi City will be completely cleared of the Maute group, a military spokesperson said Friday.
AFP spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla Jr. said the security forces have to first guarantee the security of the entire Mindanao before they could recommend the lifting of martial law in the region.
“I would suppose so because there are follow-[ups] on actions that need to be done, in order to guarantee the whole security of Mindanao,” Padilla told reporters in a press conference.
"The decision of lifting martial law has to be assessed because we have to look at the whole Mindanao, not just the Marawi itself,” he added.
On May 23, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under martial law after the Islamic State-backed Maute group laid siege in Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur.
Duterte, in a speech delivered on June 1, assured that he would immediately revoke martial law in Mindanao, if the military regains control of Marawi City.
Padilla reiterated that the security situation in the besieged city would soon normalize as the offensive attacks of Maute group members dwindle.
He also said that the militants were holed up in only three barangays of the city.
“We are confident that our troops are gaining important headway inside these areas. And as I mentioned the other day, definitely, proving that the world of terrorism inside the city is growing smaller by the day,” the military spokesperson said.
Arrest of Maute brothers, Hapilon 'top priority'
Padilla said the state forces are targeting to have full control of Marawi City on June 12, Independence Day.
Two weeks have passed since the martial law proclamation in Mindanao.
As of Thursday night, the death toll on ongoing clashes in Maute group's stronghold already rose to 198, including 138 extremists, 40 government troops and 20 civilians.
Padilla said the government forces' top priority is to secure the arrest of alleged Islamic State (IS) emir in southern Philippines Isnilon Hapilon and Maute brothers Omar and Abdullah who are the frontrunners of the terror group currently wreaking havoc in the city.
"The endgame is to have them arrested if we can arrest them. But if we cannot, then to neutralize them because I guess, they will only fight until the end," he said.
Padilla also dismissed reports that Hapilon already escaped Marawi City.
He said he got the assurance of Task Force Marawi chief Major General Rolando Bautista that Hapilon was unable to flee.
“The announcement of Major General Rolando Bautista, head of Task Force Marawi, is that it’s not true. It has no basis and they believe he (Hapilon) is still there,” the military spokesman said.
Independence Day
Padilla said they are also hoping that the government can plant the Philippine flag in every corner of Marawi City to signify the “unified stand” against the Islamic State fighters.
“Our troops are working and working overtime to facilitate the liberation of Marawi at the quickest time that we can,” Padilla said.
“Definitely, we should [raise Philippine flags in Marawi City on Independence Day]. And this is not only symbolic that we have maintained control over the area, even from the very start, but also symbolic of having the sentiments of the people in the area gravitate for a common unified stand against these bandits,” he added.
Padilla also assured the displaced families of Marawi City that the government would “reconstruct, rehabilitate, and rebuild” the city after the battle among government troops and Maute members.
He added that Marawi City will never be attacked again by any terror groups.
"We will not allow any lawless activities to prosper again. We will help restore Marawi in soonest time, with the guarantee that it will be more resilient when we leave it,” Padilla said. (VoxPop Philippines)
