 |
| President Rodrigo Duterte |
By Audrey Morallo
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:05 p.m.) — The Maute Group tried to establish a "daesh" or so-called Islamic State province in Marawi City when they laid siege to the capital of Lanao Del Sur, according to the report that President Rodrigo Duterte submitted to Congress explaining his basis for the declaration of army rule in Mindanao.
President Rodrigo declared martial law on the Philippines’ second largest island on Tuesday night following the failed attempt of security forces to arrest the leaders of the Abu Sayyaf and Maute bandit groups.
Duterte told Congress that the armed siege and acts of violence of the Maute and some Abu Sayyaf fighters were meant to take control of major social, economic and political foundations of the city to lay the groundwork for the eventual establishment of an IS province in Mindanao.
The president said these acts were not only meant as a display of force but a clear attempt to establish the groups’ seat of power in Marawi City.
“Through these groups’ armed siege and acts of violence directed towards civilians and government authorities, institutions and establishments, they were able to take control of major social, economic, and political foundations of Marawi City which led to its paralysis,” Duterte told Congress in the report.
The president claimed: “This sudden taking of control was intended to lay the groundwork for the eventual establishment of a DAESH wilayat or province in Mindanao. These activities constitute not simply a display of force, but a clear attempt to establish the groups’ seat of power in Marawi City for their planned establishment of a DAESH wilayat or province covering the entire Mindanao.”
Read the full story at PhilStar