President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday night he no longer plans to seek an extension of martial law in Mindanao unless local chief executives there think it is in the best interest of the people.
“Mindanao continues to be a [a peace and order] problem [but] I am not advocating any continuance of the martial law,” he said in a speech during the inauguration of a major road in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
“But if the local government units, the governors, mayors and even congressmen, would find it that it would be to the best interest of the Filipinos in Mindanao, I would not hesitate to say yes,” he added.
Mindanao has been under martial law since the siege of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur in 2017.
Congress has extended martial law in Mindanao thrice, and it is set to lapse at the end of 2019.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Tuesday said he would recommend an extension of martial law in Mindanao due to recent terrorist attacks.
Authorities confirmed that a bomb attack in Indanan, Sulu last month was the first by a Filipino suicide bomber.
A military official also said that seven foreigners were training local recruits in Mindanao to become suicide bombers.
In his speech Thursday, Duterte called out the Islamic State for its “corrupt” and “stupid” ideology.
“Now, the Abu Sayyaf, Maute, they are all ISIS. They have pledged allegiance to a very corrupt and empty and stupid religious ideology. They do nothing but kill and destroy,” he said.
“They cut off the heads of my soldiers, decapitate the police officers they captured. And even civilians and foreigners,” he added.