Thread: Philippines President Duterte declares martial law on Mindanao island

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law for 60 days on the island of Mindanao, after clashes between the army and militants linked to so-called Islamic State (IS).

The violence on the southern island left three members of the security forces dead, officials say.

Mindanao is home to a number of Muslim rebel groups seeking more autonomy.
Mr Duterte made the announcement during a visit to Russia, which he was forced to cut short.

Martial law allows the use of the military to enforce law and the detention of people without charge for long periods.

During his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Duterte also said the Philippines needed more modern weapons to fight IS militants and other militant groups.

The violence in Marawi, a city of about 200,000 people in Mindanao, erupted on Tuesday as the army searched for the leader of a militant group that had pledged allegiance to IS, the military said.

Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana identified the militants as members of the Maute group. They had occupied a hospital and a jail, and burnt down buildings including a church, he added.

Marawi is about 800km (500 miles) south of the capital Manila.

The Philippine constitution says a president can only declare martial law for 60 days to stop an invasion or a rebellion.

Parliament can revoke the measure within 48 hours while the Supreme Court can review its legality.

Philippines President Duterte declares martial law on Mindanao island - BBC News

Fucking Isis are trying to take over the Philippines.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

Fucking Isis are trying to take over the Philippines.

There's been a hefty Islamic militant presence in the Southern Phils for years, and they've been regularly kidnapping and executing people.

No doubt if Duterte is going to war with them, there will be a lot less, but there will be a shitload of civilian collateral damage as well.

No different than any other place that has a sizable ISIS presence.

Originally Posted by TuskegeeBen

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

There's been a hefty Islamic militant presence in the Southern Phils for years

Indeed, Islam was firmly entrenched on Mindanao Island, 300 years before Thomas Jefferson wrote The Declaration of Independence from the British. However, ISIS was problably influential in bringing Islam to the P.I., even then, eh? So, beam me "Back To The Future" there, Scottie, and plot a course for Mindanao, circa 500 years ago! "Fucking Isis are trying to take over the Philippines."

I wonder how much of this has come from Saudi funding Wahhabiism in places like the Phils though?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I wonder how much of this has come from Saudi funding Wahhabiism in places like the Phils though?

It pays better than fishing or farming I'm sure...

Militants Take Priest, Others Hostage in Philippines

Muslim extremists in the Philippines have taken a local Catholic priest and others hostage after forcing their way into a cathedral in the southern city of Marawi.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the hostages included 10 worshippers and three church employees, and that the militants were demanding the government withdraw its forces from the area.

Violence in Marawi began Tuesday when security forces raided the hideout of Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon, who has proclaimed allegiance to Islamic State.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law for 60 days in the southern province of Mindanao, which includes Marawi.

He said Wednesday he would consider imposing martial law in other parts of the country if the militant activity spreads.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said dozens of gunmen had occupied city hall in Marawi and burned a church and houses in an assault that killed at least two soldiers and a police officer.

Militants Take Priest, Others Hostage in Philippines

Philippines police chief beheaded during ISIS rampage Martial law declared after at least 21 killed
TBC1A


A police chief has been beheaded and at least 21 people killed after Islamic State-linked militants terrorised a southern Philippines city.
More than 100 militant extremists swept through Marawi, killing civilians, soldiers and taking local priest, Father Chito Suganob and a number of people hostage.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

Fucking Isis are trying to take over the Philippines.

MLF and Abu Sayyaf have been there for years both basicly kidnap for ransom gangs,have been fighting the army and cops for years.
Toured the southern phils.in the early 80's great spot but i wouldn't go near the place now.

Spent a lot of time there in the early 90,s mostly on the Catholic side of the island. Surigao. But u an city etc. Loved it. Damn shame what's going on there

Yeah mate spent a lot of time around Zamboanga great spot.

Have been to Zamboanga very briefly many years ago. Went to Cagayan de Oro for work, plus sidetrip to Camiguin island. Very pretty island with a nice sand bar (white beach). Haven't gone to other parts.

The muslims have been in Mindanao for centuries, even before the Spaniards came. There's been trade with Arabs & Chinese since pre-colonial times. The native script (alibata or baybayin) is somewhat similar to Arabic script. I studied it briefly in school - you had to be able to write your name, etc using it.

Most of the Muslims that I know in my town are peace-loving. They just want to live in peace, do their business & bring up their children. Most are transplants from Mindanao - they left it to escape the fighting.

It's sad what's happening in the south - a few rotten apples are trying to destroy the whole. That said, all's well & peaceful in my area. Business as usual, a regular day at work.

Cheers, Katie...

Katie23 Thanks for sharing your experience about the more positive aspects of life, on Mindanao. This topic thread was in dire need of a spiritual transformation. Cheers

Duterte ponders nationwide martial law

President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to impose martial law throughout the country in response to growing threat of terrorism after militants associated with the Islamic State rampaged through Marawi City in southern Mindanao on Tuesday, The Manila Times Online reported on Thursday.

While visiting Moscow, Duterte declared martial law on Tuesday night for the entire Mindanao which is home to 20 million Muslims immediately the Maute terrorist group attacked Marawi City and rampaged through the town, triggering clashes with soldiers and police.

Five soldiers and two policemen were reportedly killed and the military claimed to have killed 13 terrorists, but only two bodies were recovered. The terror group also beheaded a police officer after capturing at a road checkpoint and held a Catholic priest and several other people hostage. They also set fire to several buildings.

Duterte named Armed Forces chief Eduaedo Ano as martial administrator in Mindanao and extended his term by six months. Ano is supposed to retire in June and is to become interior secretary.

Duterte he could not allow the terrorists to go around on rampaging and killing spree in open defiance to the government.

Clashes erupted in Marawi City as government forces tried to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, an Abu Sayyaf leader who has been named the Philippine head of the Islamic State. The US has put a $5 million reward for his capture.

Arriving in Manila from Russia, Duterte said Wednesday that the privilege of writ of the habeas corpus might be suspended in the Visayas region, but he assured the public that he would not allow abuses.

Suspending the privilege means that authorities can now arrest and imprison anyone without trial.

Duterte ponders nationwide martial law - Thai PBS English News

Fighting resumes between gov’t troops, armed groups in Marawi

MARAWI CITY – Fighting between armed men and government forces here resumed on Thursday, the morning after President Duterte arrived from his trip to Moscow that was cut-short when terrorists attacked this Islamic City.
The fighting commenced at around 9:30 a.m., with government soldiers entering areas where members of the Maute terror group and the Abu Sayyaf have been staying since Tuesday.

“It has started,” Maki Panandigan, a resident of Marawi City, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone at 9:45 a.m.
At 4 p.m., Panandigan again called the Inquirer saying mortar shelling continued, with several houses already on fire.
Earlier, the armed men fired their weapons towards the military camp where journalists covering the events have been staying.
News teams of Rappler, TV 5, INQUIRER and other agencies scampered and ducked for cover around 1:30 p.m. when Maute and Abu Sayyaf snipers fired their guns toward the journalists and government troops.
No one was hurt in the gun attack and operating troops pursued the perpetrators.
There was no immediate data available on casualties in Thursday’s offensives.
But on Wednesday, the Western Mindanao Command said five soldiers were killed while 31 others were wounded in the fighting.

more Fighting resumes between gov't troops, armed groups in Marawi | Inquirer News

Singaporeans among foreign fighters involved in IS-linked insurgency in southern Philippines


DAVAO CITY: Singaporeans are among the foreign fighters who are involved in the Islamic State (IS)-linked insurgency in the southern Philippine city of Marawi, the military said on Friday.

"Certain foreign elements have been in the country for a long time, aiding these terrorists in skills related to terrorism, related to bomb making," spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla told reporters at a briefing.

"There are also Malaysians, Singaporeans, in the fighting in Marawi... a number of them have been killed.

"There is certain information which confirms the killing of 12 militants, and half of that number are foreigners -Malaysians, Indonesians, and others," added Brig-Gen Padilla.

He noted that foreign terrorists have been among those militants killed in military operations in the last few months, adding that the Philippines has been communicating with the governments of these foreign nationals to render assistance as necessary.

More than 100 Maute Islamic militants laid seige on Tuesday to Marawi, a Muslim city in the largely Catholic Philippines, seizing the main road and bridges, torching buildings and holding hostages.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao, the southern island group where Marawi is located and the army has moved into the city to dislodge the militants.

Maute was named after two brothers who studied at Islamic schools in the Middle East - Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute.

The group has pledged allegiance to IS and was blamed for a bomb attack on a market in Davao City last year, killing 15 people.

“Before it was just a local terrorist group. But now they have subscribed to the ideology of IS,” Solicitor-General Jose Calida told Friday's news conference.

“They want to make Mindanao part of the caliphate.”

Singaporeans among foreign fighters involved in IS-linked insurgency in southern Philippines - Nation | The Star Online

Philippines: 'Foreign Fighters' Invade Marawi

The Philippines says foreigners are among the Islamist militants who took control of the southern island of Mindanao earlier this week.

"What is happening in Mindanao is no longer a rebellion of Filipino citizens," Solicitor General Jose Calida said Friday. "It has transmogrified into an invasion of foreign fighters."

He said Malaysians, Indonesians, Singaporeans and "other foreign fighters" were in Marawi.

Calida said the jihadists had answered a "clarion call" to establish an ISIS province in Mindanao.

Philippine troops entered Mindanao Thursday to begin clearing out the Islamist militants.

Military helicopters flew above the Marawi rooftops as armored tanks rolled through its neighborhoods amid sporadic gunfire and explosions. Many of Marawi’s 200,000 citizens are fleeing to safety.

The crisis began late Tuesday when Philippine security forces launched a mission to arrest militant leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was believed to be in Marawi recovering from wounds sustained in a previous clash. The raid collapsed after a wave of militants stormed the city and went on a rampage, burning houses, a university and Catholic churches and taking hostages, including a priest and more than a dozen others at a cathedral.

The military says at least 11 government troops and 31 militants have been killed in the fighting.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in the southern Philippines, and has vowed to take harsh measures against the militants. He also warned he might expand martial law nationwide.

Duterte’s use of martial law has raised concerns among human rights groups, who have accused him of ordering security forces to kill thousands of people as part of his crackdown on illicit drugs.

The southern Philippines, particularly the resource-rich but poverty-wracked Mindanao region, has long been a hotbed of activity by the Abu Sayyaf and other fundamentalist groups.

Hapilon has sworn allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

His time as leader of the brutal Abu Sayyaf terror group, which has been blamed for numerous bombings, kidnappings for ransom and beheadings in the Philippines, includes the 2004 bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay that claimed more than 100 lives.

The United States has placed a $5 million bounty on his head for alleged terrorist acts against American citizens.

Philippines: 'Foreign Fighters' Invade Marawi

Foreign troops, mostly Americans from the visiting forces are setting up small camps in remote barangays and recruiting/training Filipinos. Its mostly basic combat training. Its not clear what the training is for, but its definitely not for a cruise to the Caribbean. 555

Originally Posted by bobo746

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

Fucking Isis are trying to take over the Philippines.

MLF and Abu Sayyaf have been there for years both basicly kidnap for ransom gangs,have been fighting the army and cops for years.
Toured the southern phils.in the early 80's great spot but i wouldn't go near the place now.

You mean "MILF"?

Since finding out that their acronym is also a sub-genre of porno, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front decided to up their game a bit.

Originally Posted by GracelessFawn

Foreign troops, mostly Americans from the visiting forces are setting up small camps in remote barangays and recruiting/training Filipinos. Its mostly basic combat training. Its not clear what the training is for, but its definitely not for a cruise to the Caribbean. 555

What "visiting forces"? You've seen this? Funny it's totally unreported anywhere.

Bullshit, Grace. AFP is competent to provide basic training....if they were recruiting...which they aren't.

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

Damn shame what's going on there

It's a damned thing what's going on globally. You are aware of the fact, that it's all part-n-parcel of the same ole grand scheme of things, are you not?