Duterte says he had to declare martial law to fight ISIS in Mindanao

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said his martial law declaration for the country’s restive south was necessary in order to fight militants there.

I had to declare martial law in the Mindanao group of islands,” Duterte said at a news conference Wednesday in Manila. “It is our constitutional duty to enforce the law and provide security.

“Fighting between government forces and the Maute group, an Islamist militant organization based in Mindanao, began Tuesday afternoon in Marawi, a city of about 200,000 people.” via Image and Source: CNN

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