Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants were hungry to establish a caliphate, as he toughens his stance on the kidnap-for-ransom group accused of a deadly bombing in his home city this month. “They are hungry for a fight to establish a caliphate in Southeast Asia. Caliphate is a kingdom for the Muslims,” Duterte said in a speech to soldiers. They are just ISIS wannabes,” defense department spokesman Arsenio Andolong told Agence France-Presse, using another name for the Islamic State. The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the nation’s worst terror attacks and has beheaded foreigners, including two Canadians in April and June after ransom deadlines lapsed.

Source: Manila Times September 17, 2016 09:00 UTC