MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he will lift martial law in Mindanao once government security forces deem the region safe from terrorists.

“When the military and police will tell me, 'Duterte, it’s time to lift martial law because everything is safe already,' OK,” Duterte said in a speech at the 50th founding anniversary of Davao del Sur in Digos City.

“It’s not dependent on the whim na punta (sa) Supreme Court . . . We can talk of anything else and make compromises, maybe, but not when the interest of my country is at stake. That is not negotiable.”

The Supreme Court held oral arguments on the petition against the declaration of martial law in Mindanao on June 13-15.

Duterte reiterated he did not want to declare martial law in Mindanao but that the situation was “critical.”

“In the first place, I did not do it on my own volition. I was in Russia when pumasok ‘yung balita,” he said.

“What they answered to me was this: ’Mayor, the situation is critical pati ‘yung mga civilian namamatay na.’ Ako as mayor, as a prosecutor, as a congressman, I have my standard kung ano ‘yung critical. ‘Yung critical ko baka sa’yo hindi. But I will . . . I take care of a country.”

In a speech in Iligan City last week, Duterte apologized for declaring martial law.

"I would like to say to the Maranao people that I am very, very, very sorry na nangyari ito sa atin. Sana kung madaling panahon, you will find in your heart to forgive my soldiers, ang gobyerno, pati ako, for declaring martial law," Duterte told displaced families.

"Wala akong choice, sinisira na ang Marawi. I have to drive them out. But I am very sorry. Pakiabot na lang sa ating mga kapatid na Maranao ang aking paghihinanakit din sa nangyari. Patawarin niyo po kami.”

Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under martial rule on May 23, the day the Maute group attacked Marawi City.