duterte warns of harsh measures as civilians flee fighting in mindanao
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Duterte warns of harsh measures as civilians flee fighting in Mindanao

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Duterte warns of harsh measures as civilians flee fighting in Mindanao

A government troop stands on guard checking vehicles evacuating residents from their hometown of
Pantar (Philippines) - Arab Today

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 under 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.

Fighting abated on Wednesday as the military tried to isolate fighters while awaiting reinforcements. There was no update on the toll of three members of the security forces authorities reported killed and 12 people wounded.

The armed forces said the situation was under control but residents who fled told a different story and said Marawi was in the hands of the rebels, who had allowed civilians to leave.

"The city is still under the control of the armed group. They are all over the main roads and two bridges leading to Marawi," student Rabani Mautum told Reuters in Pantar town, about 16 km (10 miles) from Marawi.

"I was in school when we heard gunfire... When we came out there were bloodstains in the building but we did not see dead or wounded."

The rebels took hostage Father Chito Suganob, a priest at the city's Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians, and several other Christians, according to the head of the country bishops' association.

"They have threatened to kill the hostages if the government forces unleashed against them are not recalled," said Father Socrates Villegas, president of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

"We beg every Filipino to pray fervently for Father Chito and for other hostages."

Critics chided Duterte for what they saw as an overreaction in declaring martial law for two months on the southern island, which is the size of South Korea and the second biggest in the Philippines, after an incident in one city.

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers, a group of human rights attorneys, said the decision was "a sledgehammer, knee-jerk reaction" that would "open the flood gates for unbridled human rights violations and abuses".

Tuesday's raid was aimed at capturing Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf group notorious for piracy, banditry and for kidnapping and beheading Westerners. He is wanted by the United States.

The Maute and Abu Sayyaf have pledged allegiance to IS, also known as ISIS, and have proved fierce opponents for the military.

Duterte has warned repeatedly that Mindanao, an impoverished region beset by decades of unrest by separatist and Marxist guerrillas, was at risk of "contamination" by IS militants driven out of Iraq and Syria.

Armed forces spokesman Edgard Arevalo urged the public not to be alarmed and said the Maute group was showing off to IS.

"They are merely courting the acclamation of ISIS which until now they haven't received."

Source: Timesofoman

 

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

duterte warns of harsh measures as civilians flee fighting in mindanao duterte warns of harsh measures as civilians flee fighting in mindanao

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

duterte warns of harsh measures as civilians flee fighting in mindanao duterte warns of harsh measures as civilians flee fighting in mindanao

 



GMT 20:28 2017 Monday ,13 February

EgyptAir to receive second next-generation Boeing

GMT 05:13 2017 Thursday ,16 February

Central bankers take up arms against protectionism

GMT 12:53 2017 Friday ,13 October

S&P warns of Catalan recession if crisis drags

GMT 13:37 2017 Thursday ,16 March

Smith leads Australia's revival in Ranchi test

GMT 18:39 2017 Tuesday ,11 April

Comedian John Bishop returns to Dubai

GMT 21:08 2017 Tuesday ,31 January

Motorcity honoured as ‘Distributor Champion’

GMT 00:14 2017 Tuesday ,28 February

Mohammad receives Pakistani Chief of Army Staff

GMT 23:37 2017 Tuesday ,15 August

Civilians Killed in Deadly Blast in Afghanistan

GMT 08:27 2011 Tuesday ,07 June

3 women charged with robbing vets\' graves

GMT 20:01 2014 Wednesday ,10 December

27 hard questions you need to ask

GMT 16:44 2017 Monday ,25 December

DFM welcomes listing of AWTAD on "Second Market"

GMT 23:23 2017 Sunday ,24 December

Abdullah bin Zayed meets Canada's Minister of Defence

GMT 18:44 2016 Sunday ,04 September

Israel Strikes Northern Gaza Strip

GMT 18:17 2012 Friday ,18 May

Carmen Suleiman hits the books

GMT 09:32 2017 Wednesday ,20 December

Gayeon Lee appoints Dyelog

GMT 06:39 2014 Monday ,01 September

May 21 - June 20
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday