Manila: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has sought to reassure soldiers who might be accused of committing abuses under martial law and jokingly said that if any of them were to rape three women, he would personally claim responsibility for it.

Duterte is notorious for comments often deemed offensive and made the remark as a joke, reiterating that only he would be liable for any backlash over military rule on southern Mindanao island. He has, however, said he would not tolerate abuses.

"If you go down, I go down. But for this martial law and the consequences of martial law and the ramifications of martial law, I and I alone would be responsible, just do your job I will take care of the rest," Duterte said on Friday, according to a president`s office transcript.

"I`ll imprison you myself," he said, referring to any soldiers who commit violations, then he joked: "If you had raped three, I will admit it, that`s on me."

 Duterte made the remark in a speech to soldiers on Mindanao island, where he imposed martial law on Tuesday to try to crush Islamic State-linked rebels, who have been battling the military after laying siege to a southern city.

It was not the first time Duterte has made a joke about rape. He caused outrage in the lead-up to his presidential election win last year when he recalled a 1989 prison riot in which an Australian missionary was killed, and inmates had lined up to rape her.

In what was intended as a joke, Duterte said the victim was "beautiful" and as mayor of Davao city where the riot took place, he should have been first in line. He later apologised and said he did not intend to disrespect women or rape victims.



Duterte is known for his informal, no-nonsense style and his speeches are often loaded with profanity, threats and jokes about taboo subjects, which offend some but are taken lightly by many Filipinos.

The president`s spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Duterte`s latest remarks about rape.



Duterte`s pledge of support for troops comes as human rights groups and some lawmakers criticise his decision to declare martial law as excessive, and say it could lead to abuses by security forces.

He also joked that he would join soldiers in the fight against extremists if he could, but he had arthritis.

He urged rebels to disarm and hold talks and said anyone not authorised to carry guns would be killed.

"My order to the troops is all people who are not authorised by the government to carry arms and they resist, kill them, wipe them out," he said.</s>Malacañang hopes that fellow Church leaders of Ozamiz City Archibishop Martin Jumoad would follow his example and be supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law, the Palace spokesperson said on Saturday.

“We laud the good bishop’s support of the President’s war against violent extremism in Mindanao. We hope his fellow bishops and other clergy follow his example for their parishes, and prioritize the peace and safety of the people,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“While he has also said that mechanisms must be in place that prevent and address human rights abuses, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla has said that such mechanisms are in place, and this will differentiate this military action from the past,” he said.

Palace also urged leaders of the Muslim community to speak out against terror jihadist groups and denounce their barbarity especially in the time of holy month of Ramadan.

“We also call on Muslim leaders to speak out against terrorist groups, who use religion to disguise their barbarity, staining the peaceful name of Islam with the blood of innocents during this holy month of Ramadan,” Abella said.

Jumoad expressed support for President Duterte’s measure to contain terrorists in Mindanao.

The archbishop approves “provided that a mechanism has to be established so that human rights will not be violated.”

The Palace lauded the bishop for making an unpopular stand among the Catholic community, “risking his popularity in certain quarters.”

“Placing his diocesan’s well-being above all else, he (Jumoad) also encourages the citizens to be extra careful and to cooperate with the military,” Abella said.

Duterte declared martial rule in the whole of Mindanao after an intense firefight between government forces and members of the terror Maute group in Marawi City took place began Tuesday.

The bandits also took hostage Fr. Chito Suganob, vicar general of the prelature of Marawi, St. Mary’s Cathedral and some churchgoers. The terrorists also reportedly set the cathedral on fire. IDL</s>1.The Philippines, which is majority Catholic, has faced Muslim separatist movements for decades in Mindanao island with its significant Muslim population. The IS linked Maute group carries the black flag and insignia of IS, and like the better known Abu Sayyaf group has attacked both troops and civilians.Militants allied to the so-called Islamic State came out onto the streets of Marawi last week after the army attempted to capture a top militant leader.In response the Maute swarmed the city, taking over a hospital and burning down buildings. Many residents fled the city as clashes erupted, but a local official said about 2,000 people were unable to leave areas held by the militants.

2.The battle for Marawi began five days ago when the security forces failed to capture Isnilon Hapilon, believed to be the main IS leader in the Philippines.The military says it needs some time to regain control of the city. Troops are reported to be finding it difficult to dislodge dozens of Maute group fighters who appear to be well armed and still occupying buildings across much of Marawi.

3.At least 19 civilians have been killed in continuing clashes between the armed forces of the Philippines and Islamist insurgents in the city of Marawi, military officials say on Monday the 29th May.Some of those trapped in the city have called or sent text messages to a hotline to urge the military to refrain from further air strikes, provincial crisis management committee Chairman Zia Alonto Adiong said."Some have no food at all. Some fear for their lives," he told Reuters."This is a conflict that has gone beyond proportion. The magnitude of the degree of the damage and the people that are affected... it's really massive." .About 60 militants and 15 members of the security forces have been killed since Saturday, the army says.

4.The bodies were discovered by advancing soldiers this weekend.The military is attempting to recapture Marawi, on Mindanao island, after it was recently overrun by jihadists. Eight of the dead were found in a ravine outside the city, their hands tied and gunshot wounds to their heads.

5.The eight victims are believed to be carpenters who were part of an evacuation convoy stopped by rebels late on Saturday. They are believed to have been killed after they were unable to recite extracts form the Koran.

6.The Marawi region is a stronghold of the hardline Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State (IS).The Philippine military says it has made gains retaking Marawi city from Islamist militants amid clashes that have left about 100 people dead.

7.According to the military, militants now control only small pockets within the southern Philippine city. But there are still reports of fighting on the ground and thousands of civilians trapped. .Spokesman for the Philippines' Armed Forces said troops were in "complete control of the city except for certain areas" held by militants from the Maute group, the local militants who have declared allegiance to IS. He said that "around 40 to 50 armed elements" were still present in the city, but this may increase given the militants' activities on the ground including the freeing of more than 100 prisoners from a local jail.

8.He added that 18 military and police personnel had been killed and more than 61 Maute fighters are dead.Reports say the remaining fighters are still believed to be holding several hostages, including a priest and a number of Christians. 10.President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law early last week on the southern island of Mindanao, where Marawi is located. Marawi is known as "Islamic City" in the Philippines for its Muslim-majority population. Most of the population of Marawi has left, but local officials believe as many as 2,000 are still trapped by the fighting.(Source: BBC News)</s>Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, giving a pep talk to his troops in the country’s restive south, exhorted the soldiers to go all out in fighting Islamic militants and joked that under martial law they could even commit rape with impunity.

“The consequences of martial law and the ramifications of martial law, I and I alone would be responsible. Just do your jobs, I’ll take care of the rest,” he told his soldiers on Friday while visiting Iligan City in the country’s Mindanao region.

He then warned against committing human rights violations, before joking: “If you rape three people, I will admit that I did it.”

Duterte, who is known for making crass statements and his violent war on drugs, declared martial law earlier this week after ISIS declared a “wide-scale offensive on positions of Philippine troops in the city of Marawi.”

However, he also said that he was open to dialogue with the terrorist group.

“If they want to talk, I will be most thankful to Allah that we talk about peace,” Duterte said Friday. “If they insist on fighting, we can’t do anything. Go for it and you have my full support.”

Fighting between government forces and the Maute group, an Islamist militant organization based in Mindanao, began Tuesday afternoon in Marawi, a city of about 200,000 people. The clashes between Filipino government troops and the Islamist militants have been deadly. A spokesman confirmed that the fighters had taken over several government buildings in the city, and had torched others, including a church, a school and the city jail.

The violence prompted Duterte to cut short a visit to Moscow, during which one of his top priorities was to acquire Russian-made precision armaments to use against the militants.

Duterte declared martial law, which covers both the city of Marawi and the wider island of Mindanao, of which Marawi is a part.

Mindanao is home to a sizable Muslim population, in contrast to the remainder of the country, which is overwhelmingly Catholic.

The media wing of ISIS, Amaq Agency, put out a statement announcing that “fighters of the Islamic State launch a wide-scale offensive on positions of Philippine troops in the city of Marawi.”

In his speech to the troops, Duterte said ISIS “is here already” and flying its flags. And he urged the soldiers to take tough measures, such as arresting anyone or searching any house.

He said he is tapping resources, “scraping the bottom of the barrel to look for money to see you through.” He said governmental planes are at their disposal for the wounded to be transported and the best medical equipment is available.

Duterte’s joked about rape while expressing his support for the soldiers. It was not the first time the president quipped about the subject.

While running for office in 2016, Duterte joked about the 1989 rape and murder of an Australian missionary that took place in Davao City, in the country’s southeast, where he was mayor, CNN Philippines reported.

“I was angry she was raped, yes that was one thing. But she was so beautiful, I think the mayor should have been first. What a waste,” he said during a campaign rally, according to a CNN Philippines translation of the comments.

After drawing international condemnation from women, human rights organizations, political critics and celebrities in the Philippines, Duterte issued an apology.

“I apologize to the Filipino people for my recent remarks in a rally. There was no intention of disrespecting our women and those who have been victims of this horrible crime,” he said.

Martial law will be in effect on the Muslim-majority southern Philippines island for 60 days “to suppress lawless violence and rebellion and for public safety,” said Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, according to the Philippine News Agency.

Duterte said martial law in the southern Philippines could last a year. and remarked that the declaration was needed to combat the rise of ISIS.

“If I think that the ISIS has already taken foothold also in Luzon and terrorism is not really far behind, I might declare martial law throughout the country to protect the people,” said the President, at a news conference in Manila, Wednesday.

Philippines Solicitor General Jose Calida told reporters on Friday that the declaration of martial law shouldn’t cause alarm for law-abiding citizens. He said it is the President’s duty to crush the rebellion.

But he warned that the Maute group is dangerous and that Mindanao is being invaded by foreign fighters. He said jihadists from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore are fighting in Marawi. He said they are claiming Mindanao as part of the caliphate.

“What’s happening in Mindanao is no longer a rebellion of Filipino citizens. It has transmogrified into invasion by foreign terrorists who heeded the clarion call of the ISIS to go to the Philippines if they find difficulty in going to Iraq or Syria… They want to create Mindanao as part of the caliphate,” he said.</s>PRESIDENT Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao is certainly a very risky political move, that the Yellows are probably celebrating it.

It would bolster the false narrative they have been weaving that Duterte is the new Marcos, and that as he purportedly has demonstrated in his war against illegal drugs, he has little regard for human rights. The liberal Western media will pounce on Duterte and portray him as a strongman on the way to installing an authoritarian regime.

The biggest risk of martial law, as happened during Marcos’ Martial Law, is that soldiers, when told that civilian rule on the ground is suspended, and facing death in combat, tend to let their basest instincts run amuck, resulting in heinous crimes against civilians. The Armed Forces leadership must etch in the mind of every soldier that martial law doesn’t suspend the law nor the military’s accountability.

One big failure actually of the Marcos regime, and of the Armed Forces Chief of Staff at the time, Gen. Romeo Espino, and the Philippine Constabulary Chief Fidel Ramos, was that they hardly publicized the fact that about 3,000 military personnel were dismissed as a result of complaints from their civilian victims.

A strong and clear signal from these top military leaders that military abuses will be severely punished would have made military scalawags think twice before committing crimes against civilians. I haven’t seen any report though that a military man was imprisoned during martial law for committing crimes against the civilian population.

Unfortunately, while intended to bolster troops’ morale, Duterte’s statement that he alone would be responsible for anything soldiers did during martial law, and his joke that this would include rapes, send the opposite of the necessary signal he should be sending to the troops.

Troops’ accountability

 He must instead emphasize to his troops that they cannot escape accountability for any abuses they commit, and that these in fact would severely damage his own legitimacy, and defeat his purpose of declaring martial law in Mindanao. He must speak in Dutertespeak, like telling them in Filipino: “I’ll hang you by the balls if you abuse civilians.”

Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao—after less than a year in office—and the risks such a move entails underlines this President’s determination to defend the integrity of the Republic. If any of his rivals had won the presidency last year, each one would have put as his or her priority his or her own political survival, and therefore shirk form undertaking such a risky move.

The best way to appreciate Duterte’s move is to understand that a state’s primordial duty is to ensure its existence, which requires that any threat to its existence posed by armed groups must be swiftly and decisively ended.

This is the reason why one of the most important characteristics of a state, as political scientists have pointed out, is that it is the only entity that has the legitimate authority to use force. And only a sovereign state can have an army.

A state is also defined as the entity that has absolute supreme authority within the boundary of its territory, “one that makes its own actions without the approval of a higher authority”.

But how can it do this if it cannot enforce its authority and laws, which requires at the end of the day the use of violence? In fact this is the reason why the bloodiest wars in recent history were civil wars—in China, Vietnam, Korea, and even Spain —in which one group competes with another to win absolute authority over a territory. Even the purported font of democratic values, the US, fought a bloody civil war to defend the integrity of its Union.

Maute terrorists

 For a group like the Maute terrorists to profess allegiance to an external power, the IS, and to claim a part of the Philippines as their own, is a very serious threat to our state, and must be exterminated immediately with the full might of our armed forces. Martial law suspends the normal processes of ensuring the rights of civilians, mainly the right to trial in a speedy manner. It is in essence the deployment of the state’s armed power to defend its existence.

The most important reason for the continuing violence in Muslim Mindanao is that there has been a historical tradition among the Muslims in that region denying allegiance to the Philippine state, that only the state can have an army. This tradition has resulted in small armed groups of clans, to kidnap-for-ransom gangs such as the Abu Sayyaf to a huge army such as that of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao in 2009 and the Mamasapano slaughter of 44 elite police troops in 2015 are demonstrations of the fact that Muslim Mindanao has remained out of our Republic’s sovereignty. The survival of the New People’s Army for four decades now is not due to its ideology or vision for the Philippines but to the fact that it has replaced the state with an army in miniature form in the country’s hinterlands.

Duterte is merely undertaking his sworn duty as head of this Republic by imposing martial law in Mindanao. The Constitution requires him to do it.

It should have been undertaken more than decade ago when it became obvious that the MILF and the NPA really wouldn’t lay down their arms and couldn’t be defeated in the normal processes of purely civilian rule.</s>MANILA — As senators are to be briefed on Monday by defense and security officials tasked to justify President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao, Malacañang has made it clear that the Chief Executive has no time to entertain “misguided commentaries from critics” as he is focused on stopping the terrorist threat in the region.

“The President’s focus is on addressing the terrorist threat in Mindanao, not on the misguided commentaries of critics,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Sunday.

“He is committed to succeed in this mission and to restoring peace and order so that people throughout Mindanao can fully participate in our nation’s development,” Abella said in a statement.

Apparently, the Palace too is focused on making sure it could communicate accurately and immediately about the government’s offensive against the Maute Group which has been battling government forces since attacking Marawi City last week.

The Presidential Communications Operation Group (PCOO) has put up a Mindanao Hour Communications Center in Davao City that will give fresh and daily updates on the government’s offensive. It will also appoint a civilian Maranao spokesperson “to address the Lanao region on the government’s ongoing offensive against the Maute terror group in Marawi City.”

The executive branch is also seeking to inform senators about the necessity of martial law in Mindanao and is scheduled to give them a security briefing on Monday (May 29).

Expected to brief the senators are National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Eduardo Año and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, according to Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said on Sunday the security briefing “will achieve a lot.”

“Senators can ask questions addressed to the martial law civilian administrator (Secretary Lorenzana) and the implementer (Gen. Año) about the report and details of its implementation. By pursuing the questions we have in our minds, we will be guided accordingly in forming our opinion as to the political and legal issues concerning the martial law declaration,” Pimentel said in a text message.

Prior to Monday’s briefing, Pimentel was scheduled Sunday night to meet with members of the Senate majority bloc to thresh out the President’s report to Congress in justifying his proclamation.

But Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV insisted President Duterte did not have any justification for extending martial law beyond Lanao del Sur since he said there was “no single incident cited that occurred” outside of Lanao del Sur. He added that presidential peace adviser Silvestre Bello has assured the Communist Party of the Philippines and its political arm, the National Democratic that the New People’s Army would not be targeted.

“I would push first for the joint session so the proclamation could be deliberated and decided on in accordance with the Constitution. Then I would surely vote for its revocation,” Trillanes said in a text message.

He said his counter proposal to the Palace was for it to “realign some of their intelligence funds to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police so that they could intensify their intelligence operations so they could hunt down the remnants of these terrorist cells without hampering the way of life of Filipinos.”

Sen. Francis Escudero, in a radio program on Sunday, said he would clarify with Año and other officials their earlier statements that under martial law, authorities could arrest people without warrants, close down media organisations and take over media.

“Maybe they are not familiar with what is written in the 1987 Constitution,” Escudero saying that he was concerned with defense officials’ statements that under martial law, authorities could take over media automatically.

“There are situations that they could do that and only under the period that this was needed because freedom of expression does not stop as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Even in the middle of martial law,” Escudero said.

In the same program, Sen. Panfilo Lacson emphasized the need for other branches of government to guard to against “potential abuses” in the implementation of martial law. He expressed concern over Ano’s statements that authorities could take over public utilities and private entities as Supreme Court had already ruled against such actions. SFM

Inquirer calls for support for the victims in Marawi City

Responding to appeals for help, the Philippine Daily Inquirer is extending its relief to victims of the attacks in Marawi City

Cash donations may be deposited in the Inquirer Foundation Corp. Banco De Oro (BDO) Current Account No: 007960018860.

Inquiries may be addressed to Inquirer’s Corporate Affairs office through Connie Kalagayan at 897-4426, ckalagayan@inquirer.com.ph and Bianca Kasilag-Macahilig at 897-8808 local 352, bkasilag@inquirer.com.ph.</s>ILIGAN, Philippines (AP) — President Rodrigo Duterte made a joke about rape as he urged soldiers to use the powers of martial law to take control of a besieged city in the southern Philippines.

In the speech Friday, Duterte said he will pay the consequences if any soldiers are accused of abuses.

He said: “I will go to jail for you. If you happen to have raped three women, I will own up to it.”

On Tuesday, Duterte imposed 60 days of martial law in the southern Philippines as government forces battle militants in Marawi, a city of some 200,000 people.

Duterte is unapologetic about his manner of speech and liberally peppers casual statements with profanities.</s>Mindanao bishops are “not against” the imposition of martial law in Mindanao but said it should be “temporary” and the public should be vigilant against possible abuses.

The Palace welcomed the position of Mindanao bishops, even seeing it as a form of support for martial law in the Southern Philippines. “The government appreciates support from all sectors, no matter how nuanced,” Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

Cotabato Cardinal Orlando Quevedo said on Friday that Catholic bishops in Southern Philippines do not oppose one-man rule in Mindanao, adding the Church has no “solid and sufficient” evidence to dismiss the proclamation of martial law there as “morally reprehensible.”

He, however, said that martial law must only be “temporary” and must not be a gateway for abuses.

“We have many fears but at present, we simply do not have solid and sufficient facts to absolutely reject the declaration of Martial law as morally reprehensible,” Quevedo said in a pastoral guidance.

“We shall condemn any abuse of martial law and as in the past will condemn it outright if it goes in the way of evil. Let us be vigilant,” he added.

Abella assured that mechanisms to prevent and address human rights abuses are in place.

He added that the current military operations at present are different from the past, or during martial law under the Marcos regime.

“Such mechanisms are in place, and this will differentiate this military action from the past,” Abella said.

On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao, following the clashes between government forces and Islamic State-inspired Maute group in Marawi City.

Maute reportedly torched se­veral private and public establishments in the city, including a Church, and abducted parish priest Teresito Suganob and a number of Church personnel and teachers.

The Palace official expressed hope that fellow Church leaders of Ozamiz City Archibishop Martin Jumoad would follow Quevedo’s example and be supportive of Duterte’s declaration of martial law.

“We laud the good bishop’s support of the President’s war against violent extremism in Mindanao. We hope his fellow bishops and other clergy follow his example for their parishes, and prioritize the peace and safety of the people,” Abella said.

“Placing his diocesan’s well-being above all else, he [Jumoad] also encourages the citizens to be extra careful and to cooperate with the military,” he added.

Abella also urged leaders of the Muslim community to speak out against terror jihadist groups and denounce their barbarity especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

“We also call on Muslim leaders to speak out against terrorist groups, who use religion to disguise their barbarity, staining the peaceful name of Islam with the blood of innocents during this holy month of Ramadan,” Abella said.

Meanwhile, Abella urged the public to take a moment to remember some of the first casualties in the Marawi attacks. They are Marawi City Police Senior Inspector and Intelligence Unit Chief Freddie Manuel Solar, from Baguio City, and two members of Special Forces, First Lieutenant John Carl Morales and Special Forces Marlon Baldovino, both of Kabacan, North Cotabato.

“May they rest in peace, and may we be faithful to honor the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in the service of their country,” he said.</s>Venzuelan President Nicolas Maduro says the government's Denfense Council met Monday to discuss the threats of war from neighboring Colombia. | Read More</s>Troops in the Philippines have found the bodies of what appeared to be executed civilians outside a besieged city as fighting between the military and an Islamic State-linked group carries on in the south. About 100 people have been killed so far in the last six days.

(Photo: Reuters/Philippine National Red Cross via Reuters TV)Abu Sayyaf rebels are seen in the Philippines in this video grab made available February 6, 2009.

The bodies of 16 civilians were found in two locations. Eight bodies were found near Mindanao State University in Marawi City and included four men, three women and a child, The New York Times quoted Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, a military spokesman, as saying.

The bodies of the eight other victims were found in a ditch at the edge of the city with their hands tied and gunshot wounds to the head. A cardboard sign that was tied to one of the bodies said "Munafik," which means hypocrite or traitor. Nine spent bullet casings were also found on a blood-stained patch of road, according to Reuters, which reported that the eight men, who were shot in the head and some with hands tied behind their backs, were likely laborers who were stopped by militants while trying to flee clashes.

The killings were supposedly done by the local Maute group, which is also known as the Islamic State of Lanao. The group is trying to woo Islamic State in the Middle East for affiliation, according to the newswire.

The violence erupted in Asia's only Catholic-majority nation Tuesday after the army raided the hideout of Isnilon Hapilon, a commander of the Abu Sayyaf militant group who has pledged allegiance to Islamic State. He is on the FBI's list of most-wanted terrorists with a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.

The country's controversial President Rodrigo Duterte declared a 60-day martial law in southern Philippines last week. While showing support to the troops later, Duterte "joked" that each personnel could rape three women without any consequences, for which he was severely criticized.

At least 41 militants have been killed and 13 military men as of Saturday, the army said. The extent of civilian casualties is still unknown.

The military has been criticized for conducting air strikes and for hampering efforts to evacuate civilians. "Some have no food at all," Zia Alonto Adiong, a local politician who is coordinating efforts to get people out of the city, was quoted as saying. "Some fear for their lives. This is a conflict that has gone beyond proportion. The magnitude of the degree of the damage and the people that are affected ... it's really massive."

A Catholic priest and a number of worshipers were taken hostage last week after militants besieged Marawi and beheaded a police chief there.

Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Pena told The Associated Press earlier that the militants forced their way into the Marawi Cathedral and seized Catholic priest Fr. Chito Suganob, 10 worshipers and three church workers.

"We are in a state of emergency," Duterte said Wednesday. "I have a serious problem in Mindanao and the ISIS footprints are everywhere."

"If I think that you should die, you will die," Duterte warned in declaring martial rule while noting that law-abiding citizens would be kept safe. "If you fight us, you will die. If there is open defiance, you will die. And if it means many people dying, so be it."
The government of the Philippines and the Communist Party cancel peace talks after president Rodrigo Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao.