Martial law in southern Philippines

MANILA Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law across the southern third of the country, after deadly clashes between security forces and Islamic State group-linked militants in a major city.

The announcement was made by his spokesman at a press conference in Moscow earlier this week.

Duterte was on an official visit, fulfils an often-repeated warning by the president that he would enforce military rule to quell security threats.

Duterte placed all of the southern region of Mindanao, which makes up roughly one third of the country and is home to 20 million people, under martial law, spokesman Ernesto Abella said in the nationally televised briefing.

He said martial law would be in place for 60 days, in line with constitutional limits on the use of military rule.

Martial law is particularly sensitive in the Philippines because it was used by dictator Ferdinand Marcos to remain in power during his two-decade reign, which ended in 1986 with a “People Power” revolution.

Duterte met with Russian President Vladimir Putin late Tuesday at the Kremlin, prior to his return to the Philippines, and explained his abrupt departure.

“Units of the Islamic State Group are occupying a province and there are clashes, a military operation is still ongoing. Unfortunately, I must go there now,” he said at the start of the meeting.

The announcement of martial law came after security forces battled dozens of IS-linked gunmen in a Marawi, a city of about 200,000 people in Mindanao, on Tuesday.

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