Philippines Declares Martial Law on Southern Island

Move on Mindanao follows battle between government troops and militants from Islamic State-linked rebel group.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the southern island of Mindanao following fighting between the army and an Islamic State-linked militant group.

The declaration, in effect for 60 days, follows a battle between government troops and militants from the armed rebel Maute group, which took place in a small southern city on Tuesday.

Fighters from the group clashed with the country’s police and army after gunmen seized several buildings in Marawi, including the city jail and a hospital, subsequently setting them on fire and parading the black Islamic State flag through the city streets.

Mr. Duterte said in a statement early Wednesday that he would be “harsh” under martial law to preserve the Philippines, leaving open how long it would last. “Well, if it would take a year to do it, then we will do it. If it’s over within a month, then I’d be happy,” he said.

Martial law marks an escalation in a longstanding battle between authorities in the Philippines and several heavily armed Islamist groups in the southern provinces, whose jungle strongholds and deep community links in predominantly Muslim areas have made them hard to defeat despite years of efforts.

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