Martial law in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, originally aimed at quelling a terrorist attack in Marawi in May, has been extended for another year.

The attack may have been carried out with the knowledge of two army commanders, a justice official said.

The city was damaged by five months of occupation by terrorists.

"We cannot allow the destruction of lives to become normal. We cannot govern the nation by killing. We cannot foster a humane and decent Filipino culture by killing."

Depending on who is counting, the anti-drug war in the Philippines has claimed from 2,000 to more than 7,000 lives, both in police operations and vigilante-style or extrajudicial killings.

The Vatican earlier posed no objection to the beatification process of Father Palliola, who established Christian settlements in the western part of Mindanao among the Subanon tribe.