Philippines to l ift martial law at end of 2019

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Martial rule in the Philippines’ conflict-wracked southern region will on Tuesday be finally lifted after more than two years it was imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte, his spokesman said.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said that the declaration of martial law in the southern region of Mindanao would expire on Dec. 31, but expectedly, Duterte would no longer seek its extension.
“The commander-in-chief made the decision following the assessment of his security and defense advisers of the weakening of the terrorist and extremist rebellion,“ Panelo said.
Duterte first imposed martial rule in Mindanao in May 2017, when Islamic State-allied militants laid siege to Marawi City, triggering a five-month battle that left more than 1,200 dead and displaced over half a million residents.
The declaration was extended three times by Congress upon Duterte’s request to give troops more time to defeat the militants.
Top leaders of the militants, including the reported emir of the terrorist Islamic State in South-East Asia, were killed at the end of the siege, while other militants were captured.
“The government is confident on the capability of our security forces in maintaining the peace and security of Mindanao without extending martial law.
“The people of Mindanao are assured that any incipient major threat in the region would be nipped in the bud,” Panelo said.
Meanwhile, security officials have since been warned that while the leaders of the siege had been neutralised, foreign terrorists have continued to train and operate in Mindanao.

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