Legal Basis and Prior Emergency
- The President acts by virtue of the powers vested in the President by the Constitution and existing laws.
- Proclamation No. 298 lifts the emergency previously declared under Proclamation No. 55 dated 04 September 2016 (s. 2016).
- Proclamation No. 55 (s. 2016) was issued due to lawless violence across Mindanao involving private armies and local warlords, bandits, criminal syndicates, terrorist groups, and religious extremists.
- Proclamation No. 298 removes the continuing effect of the emergency status established by Proclamation No. 55 (s. 2016).
Reasons for Lifting Emergency
- The proclamation finds that successful focused military and law enforcement operations and programs have been implemented to promote sustainable and inclusive peace.
- The proclamation declares that there have been significant gains in improving and restoring peace and order in Mindanao.
- The proclamation determines that the conditions prevailing when Proclamation No. 55 (s. 2016) was issued have been significantly mitigated or reduced.
- The proclamation states that lifting the emergency will boost economic activity and hasten recovery of the local economy.