Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

A11
WORLD NEWS Monday 24 July 2017

Philippine Congress extends martial law in south amid siege

have plotted similar insur- in lakeside Marawi, a cen-
rections in other southern ter of Islamic faith in the
cities and that martial law southern third of the largely
has helped troops stop at- Roman Catholic nation,
tacks, including bombings, without resorting to martial
elsewhere. law. Others worried that the
“There was an order for extension was too long and
them to do their own ver- that the rest of the country
sion of Marawi in other ar- may eventually be placed
eas, but we were able to under martial rule.
stop this because of martial Left-wing activists opposed
law,” Ano told the legisla- to Duterte’s declaration
tors. rallied outside Congress.
Defense Secretary Delfin Some unfurled protest post-
Lorenzana played down ers in the plenary hall but
concerns of military abus- were forced out by security
es, saying no major human officers.
rights violations have been Sen. Risa Hontiveros re-
reported since Duterte de- called how civil liberties
clared martial law to deal were curtailed and Con-
with the Marawi violence, gress was padlocked when
the worst crisis in his year- dictator Ferdinand Marcos
A protester displays a placard during a rally outside the Lower House as lawmakers gather for a long presidency. imposed martial law in the
special joint session on the possible extension of martial law in the southern Philippines, Saturday, Some opponents argued Philippines in 1972. Marcos
July 22, 2017 in Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Martial Law was declared by Presi- that government forces was ousted in a “people
dent Duterte last May 23 for 60 days following the siege by Muslim militants of Marawi city which could deal with the attack power” revolt in 1986.q
is now on its second month.
(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
By JIM GOMEZ two-month siege by Islamic President Rodrigo Duterte’s
Associated Press State group-linked militants request in a special joint
MANILA, Philippines (AP) and stamp out similar ex- session. The 60-day martial
— The Philippine Congress tremist plots in the volatile law was to expire late Sat-
this weekend overwhelm- region. urday.
ingly approved the presi- House of Representatives The military chief of staff,
dent’s appeal for martial Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez Gen. Eduardo Ano,
law in the south to be ex- announced that senators warned during the session
tended to the end of the and House members voted that aside from the uprising
year to help troops quell a 261-18 in favor of granting in Marawi, extremist groups

WE ARE CELEBRATING

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
ST

TO CELEBRATE WE ARE GIVING OUR GUEST A
FREE BOTTLE OF WINE* *OFFER VALID ONLY WITH MAIN COURSES AND PER TABLE.
PLEASE ASK WAITER FOR MORE INFO.