Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Wednesday that martial law would be “harsh” and like a dictatorship, after imposing military rule in the south of the country to combat Islamist militants. Duterte declared martial law in the southern region of Mindanao, home to about 20 million people, on Tuesday night after gunmen who had declared allegiance … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law Tuesday in the southern region of Mindanao, where security forces have been battling Islamic State group-linked militants, his spokesman said. “As of 10:00pm Manila time Duterte has declared martial law for the entire island of Mindanao,” spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a nationally televised briefing from Moscow where … Read more
Philippine security forces hunting one of the world’s most-wanted Islamist militants were battling gunmen in a southern city on Tuesday, authorities said. Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of the infamous Abu Sayyaf kidnapping-for-ransom gang who the Islamic State group has appointed its Philippine chief, was believed to be among those fighting police and soldiers in Marawi … Read more