4 Philippine Showbiz Today
4 Philippine Showbiz Today
May 22 - June 8 , 2017
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Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 .
Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law after deadly clashes between government security forces and Islamic State group-linked militants in Marawi City .
The announcement was made by his spokesman at a press conference in Moscow where Duterte was on an official visit .
The declaration fulfills an often-repeated warning by the president that he would enforce military rule to quell security threats .
Duterte , known internationally for waging a war on drugs in the Philippines , had said on many occasions since becoming president last year that he was prepared to declare martial law nationally as well as in Mindanao .
Residents of Marawi City were jolted by loud explosions Tuesday afternoon ( May 23 ), when clashes erupted between the military and local terrorist groups .
The situation worsened as fires broke out , power was cut , and clashes continued .
At the end of the night , Duterte declared martial law in all of Mindanao .
The military said it is running after “ high value targets ” who are contained in the military ’ s area of operations in the vicinity of Barangay Malutlut , a commercial and residential area between the Mindanao State University and the city center .
Incidents in the vicinity of the city center are supposedly perpetrated by sympathizers of the
Ottawa , Ontario - The Prime Minister , Justin Trudeau , today issued the following statement on an apparent terrorist attack in Manchester , United Kingdom :
“ I was devastated when I heard about the innocent victims who were killed or injured at the Ariana Grande concert tonight in Manchester – many of them far too young .
“ On behalf of all Canadians , our deepest condolences go out terrorists the military is hunting down .
Duterte placed all of the southern region of Mindanao , which makes up roughly one third of the country and is home to 20 million people , under martial law , spokesman Ernesto Abella said in the nationally televised briefing .
Abella said martial law would be in place for 60 days , in line with constitutional limits on the use of military rule .
Martial law is particularly sensitive in the Philippines because it was used by dictator Ferdinand Marcos to remain in power during his two-decade reign , which ended in 1986 with a “ People Power ” revolution .
Duterte met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin , prior to his return to the Philippines , and explained his abrupt departure .
“ Units of the Islamic State Group are occupying a province and there are clashes , a military operation is still ongoing . Unfortunately , I must go there now ,” Duterte said at the start of the meeting .
The announcement of martial law came after security forces battled dozens of IS-linked gunmen in a Marawi , a city of about 200,000 people in Mindanao , on May 23 .
“ Our country needs modern weapons ... to fight against the Islamic State group we need weapons ,” Duterte said in Moscow .
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said one policeman and two soldiers were killed in the clashes , which began when security forces raided a house where they believed Isnilon Hapilon , a leader of the infamous Abu Sayyaf kidnap gang and Philippine head of IS , was hiding .
Photos posted on social media by residents showed the gunmen walking through the streets of Marawi and placing a black flag that looked similar to those used by IS .
Lorenzana said the gunmen , who were believed to number more than 100 , had occupied a hospital and a jail , and burnt down a buildings including a Catholic Church .
He said many were hiding in buildings as snipers , making it difficult for security forces to combat them .
The Abu Sayyaf , based on the most southern islands of Mindanao , has kidnapped hundreds of Filipinos and foreigners since the early 1990s to extract ransoms . The United States lists it as a terrorist organisation .
Abu Sayyaf militants beheaded an elderly German man early this year and two Canadians last year after ransom demands for many millions of dollars were not met .
It has also been blamed for the country ’ s worst terrorist attacks , including the 2004 bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay that claimed more than 100 lives .
Security analysts say Hapilon has been trying to unite Filipino militant groups that have professed allegiance to IS . These include the Maute group , which is based near Marawi .
The Maute group has engaged in repeated deadly battles with the military over the past year in rural areas around Marawi .
Muslim rebels have been waging a rebellion since the 1970s for an independent or autonomous homeland in Mindanao , with the conflict claiming more than 130,000 lives .
The main Muslim rebel groups are involved in peace talks with the government .
But the Abu Sayyaf , Maute and other hardline groups are claiming they want to set up an Islamic caliphate in the south for IS , according to security analysts . The fighting on May 23 came six weeks after the military foiled a mass kidnapping attempt by the Abu Sayyaf on the central island of Bohol that is popular with foreign tourists .
The US and other Western governments also warned this month that terrorists were planning to kidnap foreigners in tourist hotspots in the western and central Philippines , adding to longstanding advisories of abduction threats in Mindanao . ●
Trudeau statement on Manchester bombing to the families and friends of those who were killed . We also wish a speedy recovery to everyone who was injured .
“ Canada and the United Kingdom are the closest of friends , and we stand together as a people in this most tragic of circumstances .
“ With our allies and partners , we will continue to counter such senseless acts and to fight terrorism in its many forms . We will do all that we can to assist British authorities in bringing those responsible to justice .
“ Our hearts are with the people of the United Kingdom tonight , and we mourn with them the loss of so many innocent victims .”
*** IMPORTANT ***
“ We are still in the process of determining whether any Canadians have been impacted by this event .
“ Canadian citizens in the United Kingdom requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the High Commission of Canada at 0207 004 6000 or call Global
Affairs Canada ’ s 24 / 7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre toll free at 00-800-2326-6831 or collect at + 1 613 996-8885 . An email can also be sent to sos @ international . gc . ca .” ●