(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said Maute’s “open defiance” and “rebellion” prompted him to declare martial law in Mindanao, as he assured the public he would not allow abuses on the part of the security forces.
In his arrival speech from Russia, Duterte said the Islamist militants rampaged through Marawi and beheaded the police chief in Malabang who was on his way home.
“…Going back he was stopped by a checkpoint manned by terrorists and I think they decapitated them right then and there,” Duterte said.
“This is an open defiance. Government must put an end to this,” Duterte added.
He also noted that Maute had pledged allegiance to the international terrorist group ISIS, an act of “rebellion.”
He said he could not “gamble with ISIS because they are everywhere.”
“If you raise the flag of ISIS, that was the time I said it has to be stopped. I’m willing to gamble with martial law,” Duterte said, noting that he had gotten “suggestions” that he make the declaration as early as several months ago, when Davao was bombed, but that he rejected these, saying “there has to be a very compelling reason to do it.”
“Do not allow the ISIS to come here. Do not do it because as I said, my response will be harsh,” he said.
Curfew
President Duterte then tasked General Eduardo Año, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, as implementor of martial law in Mindanao.
He said under martial law, he would implement a curfew in some areas in Mindanao.
“Checkpoints will be allowed. Arrests will be allowed in Mindanao. I don’t need to secure a warrant. If you are identified positively (as a member of the other side), you can be detained,” he said.
He assured the public his move was “not intended for law-abiding citizens.”
“I will assure you that I am not willing to allow abuses. Government is running, Congress is functioning, the courts are open (for anyone who wishes to air a grievance),” he said.
“I will not allow abuses. But anyone now holding a gun, confronting government with violence, my orders are, ‘Spare no one,'” he added.
According to Duterte, he may decide to expand the areas subjected to martial law, depending on the “hard facts” he receives from his advisers in a briefing later.
He said the territories he was looking at were Visayas and Luzon.
President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao through his spokesperson after clashes ensued between government troops and the Maute terrorist group in Marawi on Tuesday.
The military said the clashes–which left at least three dead—began after they acted on a tip Isnilon Hapilon was hiding in the city.
President Duterte, who was on official visit to Russia at that time, cut short his five-day official visit to deal with the terrorists.(With a report from Agence France Presse)
