Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has welcomed the recommendation of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to President Rodrigo Duterte not to extend the martial law in Mindanao once it lapses on December 31.

Salazar said once martial law is lifted, the local government would want the current security setup maintained, including the two battalions of soldiers to help the Philippine National Police (PNP) secure this city.

“This is to prevent any untoward atrocity,” Salazar said Thursday.

The two battalions of soldiers, consisting of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-11 (MBLT-11) and the Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion, are assigned with the Joint Task Force Zamboanga, which is tasked to secure this city alongside with the police.

The Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion covers the city proper and the west coast of this city towards the boundary to Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte while the MBLT-11 is guarding the east coast towards the border with Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Salazar, who chairs the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), shared the views of Lorenzana on lifting martial law due to its effect on the economy in Mindanao.

“We wait for the President’s approval on Secretary Lorenzana’s recommendation,” she said.

In his recommendation submitted to Malacañang last week, Lorenzana said the prevailing security conditions in Mindanao as well as those of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have greatly improved since the defeat of the Maute fighters in October 2017.

President Duterte has placed entire Mindanao under martial law when the Maute group attacked Marawi City on May 23, 2017.

In December 2018, the President extended the imposition of martial law for another year until December 31, 2019, despite the fall of the Maute group in October 2017. (PNA)