President Rodrigo Roa Duterte takes time to appreciate the painting of his portrait which was presented to him in Malacañan Palace on December 5, 2017 (Source: philstar.com) Hanoi (VNA) – Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on December 11 askedCongress to extend martial law in the southern island of Mindanao by the end of2018 to continue tracking down Islamic terrorists.
Theextension of the military rule on the island is necessary to prevent pro-ISmilitants uprising again in Mindanao, he suggested in the letter sent to thecountry’s lawmakers.
“I ask the Congress of the Philippines to furtherextend the proclamation of Martial Law and the suspension of the privilege ofthe writ of habeas corpus inthe whole of Mindanao for a period of one year, from January 1, 2018 toDecember 31, 2018,” he wrote.
The Philippine Congress schedules to vote on therequest for martial law extension this week.
The military rule was declared in Mindanao on May23 in response to attacks by terrorists of Islamic groups in the southern cityof Marawi. -VNA
VNA
