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. 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. 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.
The government of the Philippines and the Communist Party cancel peace talks after president Rodrigo Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao.