He also stated his intention of extending the Martial Law to the entire country if the violence and terrorist attacks went beyond Mindanao.
“Government may consider the covered areas of martial law, in the event that members of Maute group and other ISIS-affiliated terrorists seek sanctuary or expand their terrorist activities in the Visayas and Mindanao,” Duterte said
It can be remembered that President Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under Martial Law after the attacks by the terrorists increased and the battles between the military and the terrorists escalated.
In his speech about his Martial Law declaration, he said that the Martial Law will exceed 60 days, the limit of days that a Martial Law can be implemented according to the 1987 Constitution
However, this possibility to extend the Martial Law throughout the country has already been criticized by Vice President Leni Robredo, senators under the Liberal Party, and other concerned groups. They fear that another dictatorship will happen if the entire Philippines is put under Martial Law.
Moreover, VP Robredo stated that if the Philippines is put under Martial Law, she fears that the government officials, especially the military, may abuse their power and violate human rights.
“Anyone now holding a gun, confronting the government with violence, my orders are spare no one, let us solve the problems of Mindanao once and for all," Duterte said on Wednesday.
“If I think you should die, you will die. If you fight us, you will die. If there's an open defiance, you will die, and if it means many people dying, so be it. That's how it is,” he added.
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| Photo from RT |
According to the army, hostages were under Islamic State-linked terrorists.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, from the Public Affairs Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said five soldiers and police officers have already been killed on the firefights against terrorists since Tuesday. He announced this on Wednesday.
The terrorists, who are said to be IS-affiliated (Islamic State, former ISIS/ISIL), had already taken over local clinics, had taken hostages, and is currently occupying the Marawi's city hall.
According to Western Mindanao Command chief, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr. via PhilStar daily, the military had already rescued over 78 civilians from the Amai Pakpak Medical Center.
These civilians were used as human shields by the terrorists as the military tried to penetrate the area of Amai Pakpak Medical Center.
The military officers were also able to secure 42 teachers who had taken refuge and were trapped at Dansalan College after the start of the terrorist attacks.
There were no details provided by the authorities as to the number of injured civilians since Tuesday, if there are any. But they said that at least 31 soldiers and police officers had been wounded throughout the attacks since Tuesday, trying to rescue civilians and escort them to safety.
Source: RT
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