The article you quoted only refers to a private firm's research, but yes, I have already read about a spokesman for the AFP voicing/echoing partly similar concerns. Assuming Malacañang primarily gets its cues from the military in this respect, that suggests that maybe martial law in Mindanao will remain for now. I am sure Duterte is weighing the risk of lifting martial law and then being confronted with a significant terrorist attack/bombing. As long as he doesn't like that perceived risk (of bad publicity), he will keep martial law.
I understand martial law in and around Marawi (and perhaps the entire ARMM and bordering provinces given the nature of the threat) but the entire island? It's a huge island, seems a bit much to me. I would think there is just as much of a threat of terrorism in Dumaguete as there is Surigao.
Rebels kill militiaman, wound cop in Butuan I think Butuan is far enough away from the "the entire ARMM and bordering provinces" to show a threat exists in that region which is possibly greater than here in Dumaguete (touch wood).
If NPA attacks qualify a province for martial law then Negros Oriental and Occidental should both already be under martial law. 5 cops killed in Negros Oriental ambush Retired soldier killed by ‘rebels’ NPA rebels kill government “intel” asset
I knew you would quote those incidents back at me, but I look at the wider picture. For reasons we know, Mindanao has some serious problems and so when a very serious incident broke out in Marawi it was decided to contain it by declaring Martial Law over the whole island. While incidents are still occurring within Mindanao it is a judgment of The President when he and his advisers feel that can be relaxed. If the problems within Negros ever match, or look likely to match, the scale of those within Mindanao then I am quite happy to live within a zone of Martial Law and to do all I can to support the government's efforts to make the island safe for me as well as, more importantly, the resident innocent Filipino population.
I heard Marawi terrorism threats are still there despite that crisis was over. I hope everything will end peacefully soon in the Philippines.
The "religion of peace" generally has that problem whenever they have a large following in a given area.
