Mindanao violence: Duterte’s excuse to impose martial law?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s imposition of military rule in the restive, Muslim-majority island of Mindanao is “over the top”, counterterrorism experts said on Thursday, amid growing fears the controversial leader plans to use a rising tide of extremist violence as an excuse for nationwide martial law.

“If I think ISIS has already taken control in Luzon and terrorism is not really far behind, I might declare martial law throughout the country,” Duterte said late on Wednesday after cutting short a state visit to Russia to deal with the crisis in Mindanao, the second largest island in the archipelagic state.

“Anyone now holding a gun, confronting government with violence, my orders are spare no one, let us solve the problems of Mindanao once and for all,” he said.

The president imposed military rule on the island a day earlier after fighting erupted in the city of Marawi between government forces and members of the Maute militant group, which had previously pledged allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The military on Wednesday said it had “stabilised” the situation after the initial violence in the city of 200,000 people saw at least seven security personnel killed – including a policeman who was beheaded – and dozens of others injured. Media reports on Thursday said 13 militants were killed and thousands of the city’s inhabitants were fleeing to other parts of Mindanao. Regional counter terrorism experts said the president’s reaction to the violence was overblown.