AS the 60-day effectivity of martial law in Mindanao will lapse on July 22, the military ground commanders have submitted their assessment on whether to extend or end it for the region, a spokesman for the armed forces has said. “The Chief of Staff of the AFP submitted it to the Secretary of National Defense [on Friday]. Padilla had said that the assessment was in its “finishing stages” and would be ready for submission to the AFP chief, the implementor of martial law. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the martial law administrator, will further review the recommendation before forwarding it to President Rodrigo Duterte as the commander-in-chief. Efforts by the military to arrest Hapilon in Marawi failed as his supporters retaliated by laying siege to the city.

Source: Manila Times July 15, 2017 10:41 UTC