MANILA, Philippines — Even as the military promised to do all it can to end the crisis in Marawi City, Philippine National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa said he is all for extending martial law over Mindanao.
President Rodrigo Duterte has suggested he might extend martial law beyond 60 days should the military and police recommend this.
Unlike the original declaration under Proclamation No. 216, which the overwhelmingly pro-administration Congress supported without convening in join session, leaders of both chambers say lawmakers will decide on whether to extend martial law and for how long.
Duterte declared Mindanao under martial law on May 23, hours after fighting broke out between extremist gunmen and government forces in Marawi City. The Supreme Court has upheld his declaration.
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has proposed a five-year extension but the military, which has yet to submit its recommendation to Duterte, has thumbed this down as too long.
Dela Rosa, however, said he saw no problem with extending martial law because “we better not take chances.”
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