- Title: Philippines' Duterte threatens to extend Mindanao martial law to entire country
- Date: 24th May 2017
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (MAY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE WALKING AT AIRPORT DUTERTE WALKING TOWARDS PODIUM AT AIRPORT PHOTOGRAPHERS DUTERTE SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT, RODRIGO DUTERTE, SAYING: "If you raise the flag of ISIS (Islamic State), that was the time I said 'this cannot be done.' It has to be stopped, and I am willing to gamble with martial law. And I will put a stop to it and, I think, everything that ails Mindanao." DUTERTE SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT, RODRIGO DUTERTE, SAYING: "If I think that the ISIS has already taken foothold also in Luzon (Philippines' largest and most populous island) and terrorism is not really far behind, I might declare martial law throughout the country to protect the people." DUTERTE'S BODYGUARDS (SOUNDBITE) (English/Filipino) PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT, RODRIGO DUTERTE, SAYING: "In this oath of office, which I promised to God and to the people, that I will protect and defend the country, and this is where I will be. If I think you should die, you will die. If you fight us, you will die. If there is an open defiance, you will die. And if it means many people dying, so be it." DUTERTE SPEAKING DUTERTE LEAVING PODIUM
- Embargoed: 7th June 2017 13:17
- Keywords: Islamic State-linked militants placing entire country under martial law Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- City: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Defence,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I77RYD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday (May 24) he wouldn't rule out placing the entire country under martial law to prevent Islamic State-linked militants from gaining a foothold in the Christian-majority Philippines.
Duterte cut short a visit to Russia and declared martial law on his native island of Mindanao on Tuesday (May 23) following a failed raid by soldiers on a hideout of the Maute militant group, which triggered clashes and chaos across the largely Muslim city of Marawi.
Thirteen militants and seven members of the security forces have so far been killed and 33 troops wounded in the fighting, according to the military.
Critics chided Duterte for what they saw as an overreaction in declaring martial law on an island the size of South Korea and the second biggest in the Philippines, after an incident in one city.
The Maute and Abu Sayyaf militant groups have pledged allegiance to Islamic State and have proved fierce opponents for the military as Duterte seeks to crush extremists and prevent radical Islamist ideology from spreading in the Philippines. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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