Philippines president declares martial law on Mindanao

Manila: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law on the southern island of Mindanao on Tuesday after a fierce bout of fighting between the army and militants linked to IS in the city of Marawi. Three members of the security forces were killed and 12 wounded, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told a news conference, as clashes erupted in the wake of what the military said was a raid on a flat where about 15 rebels were hiding.
Lorenzana was speaking in Moscow, where he was accompanying Duterte on an official visit. Duterte cancelled a meeting set for Wednesday with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and planned to cut short his trip, during which he was also due to meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Putin will meet Duterte later Tuesday, rather than Thursday, his press secretary Dmitry Peskov was quoted as TASS news agency.
The government urged civilians on Mindanao to stay in their homes or flee if it was safe, and the military said reinforcements of an initial 500 soldiers were on the way, but were being hamstrung by rebels blocking roads.
The militants belong to the Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to IS in the Middle East. Previous military offensives against the Maute, based in Lanao del Sur province, have lasted several days.
"There are Maute snipers all around, so the troops are still holding and elements have already joined," Lorenzana. Fires raged in Marawi but the military and the city's mayor said the situation was now under control. Witnesses told local television that gunfire was clattering sporadically around the city. Several buildings were on fire, including a church, officials said.
"(Duterte) has already declared martial law for the entire island of Mindanao," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters in Moscow. "This is on the grounds of resistance and rebellion based on what is happening," he said, adding that martial law would last for 60 days, as stipulated in the constitution.
Brigadier General Rolando Bautista, commander of the Philippines' First Infantry Division, said security forces were trying to locate the militants. "Based on our assessment right now there are more or less 100 divided into groups of 10 in different locations," he told news channel ANC. "Since they are advocating IS ideology they have to show IS that they are a force to be reckoned with," he said.