MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has formally asked the Senate and the House of Representatives to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2019. In his letter addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Arroyo dated Dec. 6, Duterte said terrorist groups “continue to defy the government by perpetrating hostile activities” in Mindanao during the extended period of martial law. ADVERTISEMENTDuterte cited several bombings in the region which include the ones reported in Lamitan City, Basilan, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, and in General Santos City in the past few months in his request for another martial law extension. Under the Constitution, martial law can only be imposed for a maximum of 60 days. The President again requested that martial law in the region be extended until December 31, 2018, citing the continuous insurgency of the New People’s Army in the region./acREAD: PNP, AFP sign document urging extension of Mindanao martial lawRELATED VIDEOADVERTISEMENTRead Next

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 10, 2018 08:15 UTC