Philippines’ Duterte warns of harsh measures as civilians flee fighting
PANTAR (Philippines): Thousands of civilians fled fighting in the Philippines on Wednesday as troops sought to contain IS-linked militants who took over large parts of a city, set building ablaze and took hostage a Catholic priest and other Christians.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law on his native island of Mindanao following a failed raid by soldiers on Tuesday on a hideout of the Maute militant group, which triggered clashes and chaos across the largely Muslim city of Marawi.
Duterte has long threatened martial law to destroy the Maute group and the allied Abu Sayyaf, which he warns are trying to create an IS militant group presence in the Philippines. He says they must be stopped before it is too late. He cut short a visit to Russia and warned there would be a tough response, likening the situation to the 1970s rule of late Ferdinand Marcos, remembered by many Filipinos as one of the darkest chapters of their recent history.
Duterte said martial law un- der Marcos was “very good” and he might consider more security measures elsewhere in the Philippines.
“I was asked what would be my response to terrorism and I said I would be harsh and harsh in enforcing the law,” Duterte told reporters upon arrival in Manila.
“I have always said do not force my hand into it because if I start to declare martial law I will solve all the problems of Mindanao connected with law and order.”
Soldiers and rebels set up checkpoints and road blocks on routes out of Marawi and a stream of men, women and children fled from late on Tuesday and on Wednesday, cramming into jeeps loaded with belongings.
The military gave few details about the clashes nor did they say if any rebels had been killed. The military has not explained how the raid on an apartment hideout resulted in Maute gunmen going on the rampage and taking over roads, bridges and buildings. -