Sen. Go: Military, police will assess ML lifting

Military tanks roam Marawi City at the height of the armed conflict between the military and terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2017. (PIA photo)

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is open to lifting martial law in Mindanao if the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police recommend it.

“Kung hindi na talaga kailangan ngayon, PNP and AFP should have recommended already,” Go said.

The senator said he is coordinating with authorities to determine when Martial law should be lifted.

“Kung hindi na talaga kailangang i-extend ang Martial Law, suportado ko ito,” he added.

Martial law in Mindanao was declared at the height of the five-month Marawi City siege that began on 23 May 2017. ML has been extended twice since and will lapse by year-end.

The PNP said in a recent statement that ML may still be extended but only in select areas to combat terrorism.