PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has lifted the state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao due to a significant improvement in the peace and order in the region, Malacanang announced yesterday.
The President issued Proclamation No. 298, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on the authority of the President last July 25, which states that prevailing conditions when Proclamation No. 55 that placed Mindanao under a state of national emergency was issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on Sept. 4, 2016, have been “significantly mitigated or reduced.” A copy of the order was released yesterday.
“Through successful focused military and law enforcement operations and programs that promote sustainable and inclusive peace, the government has made significant gains in improving and restoring peace and order in the region,” the proclamation read.
It added that the lifting of Proclamation No. 55 will also boost economic activity and hasten the recovery of the local economy.
Proclamation No. 55 was issued in 2016 following the lawless violence perpetrated by private armies and local warlords, bandits, criminal syndicates, terrorist groups, and religious extremists across Mindanao.
Among the incidents that occurred prior to the declaration of the national emergency included a skirmish with the Abu Sayyaf in August 2016 in Patikul, Sulu that left 15 soldiers dead; the night market bombing in Davao City in September 2016 that killed 14 people, in addition to a spate of lawless acts such as abductions and hostage takings, attacks on military outposts and bombing of power and transmission facilities.
