MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine military and police have asked the president to extend martial law he declared in the country’s south by a year because of continuing threats from pro-Islamic State group militants and communist guerrillas, officials said Friday. Duterte imposed martial law in May to deal with the Marawi siege, which troops quelled in October. Left-wing groups have protested martial law because of human rights concerns, but the Supreme Court has upheld its legality. The Marawi siege left more than 1,100 combatants and civilians dead, including more than 900 Filipino and foreign militants. “Let’s give time for a cooling off with the Communist Party of the Philippines,” Duterte said in a speech on Friday.

Source: National Post December 08, 2017 12:01 UTC