Philippine security forces killed 54 Islamist militants linked to the Jemaah Islamiah group in a week-long air and ground offensive in the country’s south, an army spokesman said on Monday. Extremists belonged to the Jemaah Islamiah group with which forces were engaged in a week-long air and ground offensive. “Our troops saw the enemies fall and, based on estimates, we killed 54. Duterte promises peace with Muslim rebelsPresident-elect Rodrigo Duterte has promised to pursue peace with Muslim rebels, proposing a new federal scheme to grant more political and economic powers to Muslim-dominated areas in the south. About a decade ago, the MILF had expelled Jemaah Islamiah members from the area in preparation for peace talks brokered by Malaysia, and avoid getting a “terrorist” tag from the U.S. State Department.
Source: The Hindu May 30, 2016 12:33 UTC