PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Thursday appealed to Congress to “give him more time” should lawlessness in Mindanao persist when his martial law declaration in the entire southern region reaches the 60-day limit, around the time he is scheduled to deliver his State of the Nation Address.

Mr. Duterte last week declared martial law in Mindanao amid deadly battles in Marawi City involving jihadist Maute militants reportedly attempting to establish a caliphate for the Islamic-State (IS).

“For as long as the military says, ‘sir, di pa talaga kaya (we can’t resolve this yet),’ and it’s beyond 60 days, Congress must understand that I will need more time,” Mr. Duterte said in his speech before newly appointed government officials in Malacañang yesterday.

On the other hand, his defense secretary and martial-law administrator Delfin N. Lorenzana expects the standoff in Marawi to be resolved today, Friday, June 2.

But Mr. Duterte also added: “There’s Jolo which is also bursting and on top of that I am facing three fronts: I have terrorism in Mindanao; I have the drug problem; and itong mga (these) ordinary — mga kidnap-for-ransom and everything,” he added.

“Kaya kung patayin yan sila, wag kayong magtaka (When they’re killed, don’t be surprised).”

Proclamation No. 216, the martial-law declaration in Mindanao, will last 60 days, according to Article VII, Section 18 of the Constitution, but Mr. Duterte said this will continue until security officials give assurance that the entire country is “safe.”

“The earlier we attain the equanimity of the community, the stability; I’d be the first to clamor for the lifting of martial law,” he said.

Both the Senate and House of Representatives have affirmed the proclamation this week.

The Constitution also allows the Supreme Court to review the proclamation of martial law if any citizen challenges the “sufficiency of the factual basis of the declaration.”

Martial law is a sensitive topic in the Philippines because it was used by the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1972 to extend his stay in power indefinitely and to persecute his critics. Mr. Marcos was overthrown in 1986 by a “People Power” revolution.

‘PURELY ISIS’
Clashes between government forces and the Maute group erupted on May 23 in Marawi after the military raided an apartment where 15 members of the IS-linked group were holed up in order to serve Maute leader Isnilon Hapilon a warrant of arrest.

The crisis — which has dragged on to its 11th day today, Friday — has taken the lives of civilians and pursuing state forces.

In the same speech on Thursday, Mr. Duterte said the unrest in Mindanao is “not Maute” but “purely ISIS with different branch.”

“Itong Marawi [occupation] na ito has long been planned. It would not be just a decision na let’s go to Mindanao. Plano na ito lahat (This is all planned),” the President said, adding that the “insurrection” in Mindanao was funded by drug money.

“I warned you before, I’m warning you now na ang ISIS, walang pera (has no money) and I said, by the time they are pushed back and they lose the landmass, they will scamper to everywhere,” he said. — Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

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