MANILA, Philippines — An international rights group blasted on Thursday the extension of military rule in Mindanao for another year, saying that the decision is an "ominous move" that signals more human rights abuses in the coming months. The Congress, dominated by allies of firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte, granted the leader's request to extend for the second time the prevailing martial law in Mindanao until Dec. 31, 2018. READ: Kabataan rep: Martial law extension 'free pass for rights violations'However, Amnesty International said that the extension could mean more human rights violations which were already recorded during the months-long battle of Marawi City which killed more than 1,000 people, most of whom combatants, and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents. READ: MAT: Martial law extension a danger to human rights, democracyIn a report on the siege of Marawi released last month, Amnesty said that both the Armed Forces and the Islamist fighters committed violations of international humanitarian law, some of which could amount to war crimes. READ: ‘Martial law not meant to defer barangay, local elections,’ DND chief says

Source: Philippine Star December 14, 2017 13:41 UTC