Nagpasalamat si Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana sa mamamayan ng Mindanao at sa Kongreso sa kanilang suporta sa implementasyon ng martial law sa nasabing rehiyon.
Pahayag ito ni Lorenzana ilang oras bago tuluyang mapaso ang batas militar sa lugar.
“I would like to thank Congress for approving the extension of the martial law three times,” pahayag ni Lorenzana.
“I would also like to thank the people of Mindanao for their whole-hearted support for martial law and their full cooperation during its implementation,” dagdag nito.
Matatandaang unang idineklara ang martial law sa Mindanao noong Mayo 23, 2017 kasunod ng pagsalakay ng Maute-ISIS group sa lungsod ng Marawi, at tatlong beses ding pinalawig ng Kongreso.
“At midnight 31 December 2019, the martial law in Mindanao will end after two years and seven months or 953 days of effectivity,” ani Lorenzana.
Una rito, inirekomenda ng kalihim kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na huwag nang palawigin pa ang martial law, dahil hindi na raw ito kailangan pa.
“The security sector believes that the objective of the martial law has been achieved. The rebellion in Marawi, Lanao del Sur and other areas in Mindanao have been effectively stopped,” anang kalihim.
“For those who have openly come out with statements for the extension of martial law let me assure them that the AFP will continue to safeguard the hard-earned peace and stability in the region,” saad nito.
Pinuri rin ni Lorenzana ang AFP at PNP para sa “excellent” na implementasyon ng martial law sa Mindanao.
