Marawi residents divided on possible extension of Mindanao martial law

Residents of Marawi City are divided on the possibility of martial law being extended in Mindanao until December.

According to a report on Unang Balita on Wednesday by Ivan Mayrina, some residents are in favor of having martial law in place until the end of the year as they see it as a way to protect civilians against the ISIS-inspired Maute group.

However, other residents are apprehensive as the extension of martial law may mean it will take a while before their lives will go back to normal.

Among the questions on their minds are will they be able to work and buy goods such as food items freely, and will they be compensated for the loss of property due to damage from the fighting and looting.

Residents, however, said there is nothing more they want than for the crisis to end so they can go back to their normal lives, whether or not there is martial law.

Displaced residents of Marawi City want to be assured by the government that they will be able to return to their homes soon, said Lanao del Sur 1st District Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong in an interview on Unang Balita on Wednesday.

The local government, meanwhile, said should martial law be extended, they are hoping the national government will attend to the massive humanitarian crisis brought about by the fighting.

President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Congress to extend martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao until December 31.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella during a briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday read the letter of Duterte to Congress.

Duterte wrote that the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao would not be quelled on July 22, the end of the 60-day martial law period.

On Saturday, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives will convene in a joint session to discuss the matter. —KG, GMA News