MANILA, Philippines — Martial law may extend to Visayas and Luzon, President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday when he arrived from an official visit to Russia. Duterte said that aside from declaring martial law, he has also suspended the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao. He said that under martial law checkpoints, searches and warrantless arrests will be allowed in Mindanao. Duterte, who declared martial law in Mindanao in response to a crisis in Marawi City involving security forces and the Islamic State-inspired Maute group, referred to the Mautes group as ISIS. He said that if he senses that ISIS is infiltrating Luzon, the country's largest island and where Metro Manila is, he may declare martial law over the entire country.

Source: Philippine Star May 24, 2017 09:45 UTC