President Rodrigo Duterte offered self-rule to the Philippines’ Muslim minority on Monday in an attempt to defeat Islamist militants who seized a southern city in the gravest challenge to his year-old rule. Duterte hopes the promise of autonomy will persuade Filipino Muslims to reject the Islamic State group, whose followers still control parts of Marawi … Read more
The Philippines’ Supreme Court on Tuesday endorsed President Rodrigo Duterte’s enforcement of martial law across the southern third of the country, which he said was necessary to defeat Islamic State group-backed militants. Duterte imposed military rule across the insurgency-wracked region of Mindanao on May 23, hours after hundreds of gunmen waving black IS flags occupied … Read more
About 200 gunmen attacked troops and occupied a primary school in a southern Philippine village on Wednesday, in what appeared to be a diversionary tactic to help Islamist militants engaged in a nearby urban war, authorities said. Police and the local mayor said militants took over the school after attacking an army detachment in Pigkawayan, … Read more
Ten soldiers have been killed in a government air strike in the embattled city of Marawi in the Philippines. Eight soldiers were also wounded in the “friendly fire” incident on Wednesday, said defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana, expressing remorse. Over the last week militants allied to the so-called Islamic State have engaged in street battles with … Read more
Peace talks between the Philippine government and communist insurgents broke down on Saturday after a dispute over the rebels’ ordering their fighters to step up attacks. But communist negotiators remained hopeful that the discussions being held at a seaside resort town in the Netherlands would continue, despite the suspension announced by government negotiators. The two … Read more
More than 24,000 people fled their homes as the Philippine military used airstrikes and artillery against Muslim extremists who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, authorities said Thursday. Almost a week of attacks on members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the strife-torn southern island of Mindanao has displaced residents of six … Read more
The start of Dutch-hosted ceasefire talks to end a four-decade insurgency waged by communist rebels in the Philippines has been delayed to Monday, mediators said. “The formal opening is now pushed to tomorrow,” Helene Revhaug, spokeswoman for the Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution (NOREF), mediating the planned discussions, told AFP on Sunday. “They are still … Read more
A retired US Navy admiral and eight other high-ranking officers have been charged with corruption and other offenses in a sprawling bribery probe dubbed the “Fat Leonard” case, prosecutors said Tuesday. Retired rear admiral Bruce Loveless, a Navy intelligence officer, is the second admiral to be charged in the case, which has now grown to … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday pleaded with the country’s Muslim separatist groups to deny sanctuary to militants with links to Islamic State, warning a war would ensue that would put civilians in danger. His appeal comes a day after his defense minister said foreign intelligence reports showed a leader of the Abu Sayyaf rebel … Read more
Muslim extremists in the Philippines supporting the so-called Islamic State (IS) have freed at least eight fellow militants in a violent jailbreak. Police said at least 20 fighters from the Maute group stormed the Lanao del Sur jail the southern city of Marawi, disarming guards and stealing rifles. The militants had been detained last week, … Read more