‘PH won’t be an IS stronghold’

THE Philippines will never be a stronghold of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), President Rodrigo Duterte declared Wednesday.

The President made the pronouncement as he recognized the gallantry of soldiers who defeated the IS-inspired Maute terrorist group that held the Marawi City under siege for 154 days.

“I congratulate the Armed Forces of the Philippines for more than eight decades of honor, service [and] patriotism. To this day, you continue to play a crucial role in safeguarding our citizenry and securing our land. We will not allow those who subscribe to the Daesh ideology to succeed. We will never allow the Islamic State to make the Philippines its regional center,” Duterte said in a speech during the

82nd anniversary of the Armed

Daesh is another name for IS that the Islamist terrorists consider

“I salute the brave men and women of our Army, Air Force and Navy for their courage, dedication and sacrifice to liberate Marawi from the clutches of extremist terrorists and communist success, along with the recent neutralization of Isnilon Hapilon and his followers, further bolsters towards eliminating all terrorist groups in the country,” Duterte added, referring to the Maute

The President declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 to suppress the supposed rebellion led

In July, Congress approved the President’s request to extend his martial law declaration in Min Congress extended military rule

Duterte said rehabilitation work in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, one of the 27 provinces in Mindanao, had begun, but soldiers

“We have already begun to rebuild Marawi City and rehabilitate - main vigilant as we continue our against the remaining terrorist

hundred soldiers, at least 47 civil

Fighting displaced 500,000 billion worth infrastructure