DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said authorities will standardize teaching in both public and private Islamic schools in the wake of a militant siege in 2017 that raised fears of greater radicalization in the country.
Lorenzana said Sunday, June 3, that the country will implement an "institutionalized madrassa system" with standard curriculum and greater oversight from the Department of Education.
Lorenzana said some such schools were found to be run by Muslims with extremist beliefs, making them funnels for the discreet funding of radical activities.
Lorenzana was addressing a security conference in Singapore attended by U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, defense officials and academics from 43 countries.
A five-month siege of the city of Marawi in 2017 left more than 1,100 people dead and 200,000 displaced.
Read: Troops, Maute group clash in Marawi City: 3 dead, 12 wounded
The conflict also prompted the declaration of martial law in the entire Mindanao. Despite the liberation of Marawi on October 23, 2017, Congress extended martial law until the end of 2018 upon the request of President Rodrigo Duterte. (AP)