Duterte seeks to extend martial law across the south

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte asked congress yesterday to extend martial law across the southern third of the country until the end of next year to combat Islamist militants and communists.

In a letter to politicians, released by his office, Mr Duterte said the extension was necessary in the southern region of Mindanao to contain a rebellion by ISIL supporters as well as a rising threat from communist guerrillas.

“I ask the congress of the Philippines to further extend the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao for a period of one year from 1 January 2018,” the letter said.

Mr Duterte initially imposed military rule across Mindanao, which is home to about 20 million people, in May to quell an uprising by ISIL supporters in Marawi city.

Gunmen rampaged through Marawi, a Muslim-majority city in the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines, in what authorities said was part of a campaign to establish a South-East Asian caliphate for ISIL.

A United States and China backed military campaign took five months to defeat the militants, with the conflict claiming more than 1,100 lives and leaving large parts of the city in ruins.

Although Mr Duterte declared in October that Marawi had been liberated and military chiefs said most militant leaders had been killed, authorities have continued to warn that others who escaped are regrouping and recruiting in Mindanao.

The initial period of martial law was limited by the constitution to 60 days. But politicians in July endorsed an extension until the end of this year.

Martial law is an extremely sensitive issue in the Philippines. The dictator Ferdinand Marcos used military rule as one of his main weapons in holding on to power a generation ago.

Mr Duterte, who has praised Marcos, has repeatedly said he may impose martial law across the entire nation.

Rights groups and critics say Mr Duterte is destroying democracy in the Philippines. And a war on drugs has claimed thousands of lives.

Many Filipinos continue to support Mr Duterte, believing tough tactics are needed to solve deep-rooted problems, such as the decades-long conflicts with Islamist militants and communists.

Mr Duterte enjoys overwhelming support in both houses of congress.

Legislators are expected to vote on the extension request this week, said Rodolfo Farinas, the lower house majority leader.

I ask the congress to further extend martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus … RODRIGO DUTERTE Philippes president