On late Tuesday evening, during his state visit on Moscow, Russia, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared Martial Law on the Mindanao region of the Philippines following clashes against the Maute Group, which pledged their allegiance with the Islamic State extremists.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the duration of the Martial Law, if declared in an event of a rebellion, will last for around 60 days, but it remains unsure if the President can go beyond that limit set by the Constitution.
To avoid further confusion, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said that the declaration of Martial Law only applies to most parts of Mindanao, including Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
Clashes in Marawi City between government troops and the Maute terrorists continue to erupt and following the harsh situation in Mindanao, President Duterte's Russian visit has been cut short.
Since September 21, 1972, the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos declared the whole Philippines under Martial Law due to clashes against the communist forces. It lasted for almost a decade and right after Marcos was ousted from power, the 1987 Constitution was established and the Constitution states that the limit for Martial Law, if declared, is for 60 days.
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