IS-linked Maute terrorists attacked Marawi on May 23 and laid siege to the Islamic city until they were driven out by government troops after five months of intense fighting that left over 1,000 people dead and thousands more homeless. AP/File
Despite the liberation of Marawi City from terrorists last month, extremists continue to conduct massive recruitment in Mindanao, which might prolong martial law in the region, government officials said yesterday.
Despite the liberation of Marawi City from terrorists last month, extremists continue to conduct massive recruitment in Mindanao, which might prolong martial law in the region, government officials said yesterday.
Task Force Bangon Marawi chairman Eduardo del Rosario and Lanao del Sur Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong told a press briefing at Malacañang that extremist groups continue to recruit followers in Mindanao in a bid to establish an Islamic State (IS) caliphate in the region.
IS-linked Maute terrorists attacked Marawi on May 23 and laid siege to the Islamic city until they were driven out by government troops after five months of intense fighting that left over 1,000 people dead and thousands more homeless.
The fighting in Marawi forced President Duterte to place the entire Mindanao under martial law until the end of the year to deal with the crisis and prevent other armed groups from reinforcing the militants or launching similar uprisings elsewhere in the region.
Congress approved the extension of martial law up to Dec. 31.
IS-linked Maute terrorists attacked Marawi on May 23 and laid siege to the Islamic city until they were driven out by government troops after five months of intense fighting that left over 1,000 people dead and thousands more homeless.
The fighting in Marawi forced President Duterte to place the entire Mindanao under martial law until the end of the year to deal with the crisis and prevent other armed groups from reinforcing the militants or launching similar uprisings elsewhere in the region.
Congress approved the extension of martial law up to Dec. 31.
Adiong and Del Rosario cited serious security threats that would justify another extension of martial law.
They also pointed to the aggressive recruitment by extremist groups, as well as the need to secure the teams that will spearhead the rebuilding of Marawi, as reasons to extend martial law.
They also pointed to the aggressive recruitment by extremist groups, as well as the need to secure the teams that will spearhead the rebuilding of Marawi, as reasons to extend martial law.
A former military general, Del Rosario cited intelligence reports of massive recruitment by extremists groups with as much as P100,000 per recruit for the IS.
Del Rosario is the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) spearheading the rehabilitation efforts in Marawi.
Del Rosario is the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) spearheading the rehabilitation efforts in Marawi.
“So, I guess, it’s a matter of necessity and protecting the civilians that would be – we put primacy as far as the national government would decide whether they will lift martial law or they will maintain the imposition of martial law in Mindanao,” Del Rosario said.
“It’s really very important that we can continue to ensure that the whole area, not only Marawi City but the whole of Mindanao, will be secured from any terrorist threat,” he added.
The Bangon Marawi Task Force will be coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police “so that we can properly assess and make the necessary recommendation to the President as to the extension or not of the martial law in affected areas,” Del Rosario said.
“Personally, I would like martial law to continue during the rehabilitation phase because as chairman of Task Force Bangon Marawi, my main concern is the security of rehabilitation efforts,” he added.
If violence breaks out anew in Marawi City during rehabilitation phase, Del Rosario said contractors and laborers would flee.
Del Rosario added the government is forgoing the regular public bidding process to fast-track the rehabilitation of Marawi.
Instead, the government is calling on all probable big-time developers to submit their “unsolicited” proposal to rebuild the war-torn area – the cost initially pegged between P20 billion to P100 billion by the government.
The proposals coming from private developers will then be subjected to the so-called Swiss Challenge, defined as public procurement process when the government has received unsolicited bid for a project after publishing its details, and then inviting third parties the chance to match it.
Recommendation
Adiong, for his part, said the extension of martial law would depend on the recommendation of security forces and situation on the ground.
“Remember, the post needs and assessment team will not only conduct its assessment based on the damaged properties but the impact of the siege – the crisis itself,” he said.
Adiong stressed “the end of the war does not necessarily mean normalcy of the peace and order situation.”
“Actually, we’ve been saying this all along – the crisis will really start after the war,” he added. “And there are several reports that we’ve been receiving that the recruitment activity is now ongoing in some other towns.”
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez supported the proposed extension of martial law in Mindanao.
“For me, and maybe for the majority of residents of Mindanao, we would like martial law to continue because of the many terrorist threats there, aside from kidnapping,” Alvarez said in a radio interview.
“Residents feel safer with martial law. We like the checkpoints the military and the police are setting up from time to time,” he said.
AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla earlier said the military might recommend the extension of martial law in Mindanao if the threats remain prevalent in the region.
“It’s really very important that we can continue to ensure that the whole area, not only Marawi City but the whole of Mindanao, will be secured from any terrorist threat,” he added.
The Bangon Marawi Task Force will be coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police “so that we can properly assess and make the necessary recommendation to the President as to the extension or not of the martial law in affected areas,” Del Rosario said.
“Personally, I would like martial law to continue during the rehabilitation phase because as chairman of Task Force Bangon Marawi, my main concern is the security of rehabilitation efforts,” he added.
If violence breaks out anew in Marawi City during rehabilitation phase, Del Rosario said contractors and laborers would flee.
Del Rosario added the government is forgoing the regular public bidding process to fast-track the rehabilitation of Marawi.
Instead, the government is calling on all probable big-time developers to submit their “unsolicited” proposal to rebuild the war-torn area – the cost initially pegged between P20 billion to P100 billion by the government.
The proposals coming from private developers will then be subjected to the so-called Swiss Challenge, defined as public procurement process when the government has received unsolicited bid for a project after publishing its details, and then inviting third parties the chance to match it.
Recommendation
Adiong, for his part, said the extension of martial law would depend on the recommendation of security forces and situation on the ground.
“Remember, the post needs and assessment team will not only conduct its assessment based on the damaged properties but the impact of the siege – the crisis itself,” he said.
Adiong stressed “the end of the war does not necessarily mean normalcy of the peace and order situation.”
“Actually, we’ve been saying this all along – the crisis will really start after the war,” he added. “And there are several reports that we’ve been receiving that the recruitment activity is now ongoing in some other towns.”
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez supported the proposed extension of martial law in Mindanao.
“For me, and maybe for the majority of residents of Mindanao, we would like martial law to continue because of the many terrorist threats there, aside from kidnapping,” Alvarez said in a radio interview.
“Residents feel safer with martial law. We like the checkpoints the military and the police are setting up from time to time,” he said.
AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla earlier said the military might recommend the extension of martial law in Mindanao if the threats remain prevalent in the region.
Military officials have floated the idea of another extension. The President has said it would depend on the military and the police.
If Duterte decides to extend it again, he would have to send a formal request to Congress within the next two weeks, since lawmakers are going on a month-long Christmas recess on Dec. 16. They will reconvene in mid-January.
However, Duterte could call lawmakers to a special session during their break to tackle an extension request.
Asked about the possibility of a special session, Alvarez said it would be difficult to gather lawmakers since they have already planned their Christmas vacation.
Critics of martial have balked at another extension, saying it was no longer necessary since Duterte himself has declared that the war in Marawi City was already over.
Besides, they said under the Constitution, martial law could be declared or extended only if there is actual rebellion or invasion.
On the ground, Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan, said operations continue to prevent foreign terrorists from touching base with local counterparts in southern Mindanao.
“We have been implementing the security measures to prevent the possibility of the IS in finding their way here,” Uy said.
If Duterte decides to extend it again, he would have to send a formal request to Congress within the next two weeks, since lawmakers are going on a month-long Christmas recess on Dec. 16. They will reconvene in mid-January.
However, Duterte could call lawmakers to a special session during their break to tackle an extension request.
Asked about the possibility of a special session, Alvarez said it would be difficult to gather lawmakers since they have already planned their Christmas vacation.
Critics of martial have balked at another extension, saying it was no longer necessary since Duterte himself has declared that the war in Marawi City was already over.
Besides, they said under the Constitution, martial law could be declared or extended only if there is actual rebellion or invasion.
On the ground, Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan, said operations continue to prevent foreign terrorists from touching base with local counterparts in southern Mindanao.
“We have been implementing the security measures to prevent the possibility of the IS in finding their way here,” Uy said.
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