MANILA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Saturday that the martial law will guarantee the safety and security of the public during the rebuilding of the war-torn southern city of Marawi.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will submit its recommendation to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on whether or not to extend the coverage of martial law to the entire Mindanao region, Roque said in a press briefing in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.
He also said Duterte is expected to make his decision by next week or the following week to allow congress to discuss the measure before it suspends session for the Christmas holidays.
Roque said an extension of martial law in Mindanao would ensure the region is secured and government aid workers can focus on the rehabilitation work without having to worry about possible terror attacks.
"Although we liberated Marawi, the threat of terrorism and violent extremism prevails," Roque said.
He said martial law extension would also help in the process of rehabilitating Marawi city following the five-month siege by the pro-IS extremist fighters.
"All those involved in the rehabilitation will feel safer if the president will exercise his power as commander-in-chief," Roque said.
On May 23, Duterte put the entire Mindanao under martial rule for 60 days after an estimated 700 extremists allied with the Islamic State (IS) group laid siege to the southern Marawi city.
In July, Philippine legislators voted overwhelmingly to extend martial law until Dec. 31 this year to give more time to crush the insurgents and destroy their terror network that plans to establish a caliphate in the southern Philippine region.
