Bid to extend martial law

Duterte asks Congress to keep restrictions in Mindanao until end of next year.

Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress to extend martial law across the South of the country until the end of next year to combat Islamist militants and communist rebels.

Duterte’s request, which is expected to be approved this week, added to critics’ fears that the 72-year-old leader is seeking to steer the Philippines back into dictatorship.

But in a letter to lawmakers released by his office, Duterte said yesterday that the extension was necessary to contain a rebellion by Islamic State (IS) group supporters as well as a rising threat from communist guerrillas.

“I ask Congress to further extend the proclamation of Martial Law and the suspension of habeas corpus in Mindanao for a period of one year” from Jan 1, the letter said.

Duterte initially imposed military rule across the Southern third of the country – home to about 20 million people – in May to quell an uprising by IS militants in Marawi city.

Hundreds of gunmen rampaged through the Islamic city of Marawi in what authorities said was part of an attempt to establish a South-East Asian base for IS in the mainly Catholic Philippines.

A US-backed military campaign took five months to defeat the militants, with the battle claiming more than 1,100 lives and leaving large parts of Marawi in ruins.

Duterte declared in October that the city was “liberated” and military chiefs said most militant leaders, including the IS leader in South-East Asia, had been killed.

But authorities have continued to warn that those who escaped are regrouping and recruiting in Mindanao.

In his letter, Duterte said martial law had been key to containing IS supporters in Marawi, which is about 800km South of Manila, the nation’s capital.

“The remnants of their group have continued to rebuild their organisation through the recruitment and training of new members and fighters,” Duterte wrote.

He also warned that communist rebels, who are waging one of Asia’s longest insurgencies, had stepped up their “terrorist acts” and wanted to overthrow the government.

The president last month called off peace talks with the communists, blaming continuing deadly attacks by the rebels.

The initial period of martial law was limited by the constitution to 60 days, but lawmakers in July endorsed an extension this year.

Martial law is an extremely sensitive issue in the Philippines, after dictator Ferdinand Marcos used military rule to hold on to power a generation ago. — AFP