MANILA, Philippines — The government has defended before the Supreme Court (SC) the extension of martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year, with the military arguing that terrorists still operate in the region despite the end of the war in Marawi City.
Maj. Gen. Fernando Trinidad, deputy chief of staff for intelligence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), told the justices that that terrorist groups still exist in Mindanao despite the liberation of Marawi City from Islamic State (IS)-linked Maute group in October last year.
“The scourge being brought by the communist rebels, the Abu Sayyaf group and the presence of remnants, protectors, supporters and sympathizers of the Daesh (Islamic State) pose a clear and present danger to national security and hinder the facilitation of rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction efforts in Marawi City and the attainment of peace, stability, economic development and prosperity in Mindanao,” Trinidad told the SC.
“Considering the magnitude of scope as well as the presence of rebel groups in Mindanao, public safety remains in danger and the security of Mindanao is at stake. As it is, the AFP is appealing for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for one year,” he added.
Trinidad also revealed that foreign terrorists already arrived in the country to recruit and to train new members, adding that 15 terrorists from Indonesia and Malaysia entered Mindanao last November to join the IS-inspired group in Sarangani.
He added that 16 other Indonesian terrorists arrived to assist and undergo training to the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and Lanao del Sur.
Trinidad added that an Egyptian reported to be a terrorist was monitored to have entered the country, adding that there are now about 48 foreign terrorists in Mindanao.
The military man also said the terrorist forces again swelled to almost 400, saying their numbers are “almost the same strength” as the group that attacked Marawi City last year.
He added that the new recruits are undergoing training on marksmanship, urban attacks and production and use of improvised explosive devices.
Despite deaths of Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute brothers in war, Trinidad said new terror leaders including the founder of Khalifa Islamiya, a Filipino terrorist group based in Indonesia and another Filipino terrorist who came from Syria are emerging from the ranks.