(File Photo)The Philippines’ Supreme Court on Tuesday endorsed President Rodrigo Duterte’s enforcement of martial law across the southern third of the country, which he said was necessary to defeat Islamic State group-backed militants. Opposition lawmakers called for the Supreme Court to strike down Duterte’s martial rule for its “utter lack of sufficient factual basis”. As part of his martial law measures, Duterte allowed security forces to detain suspects for up to three days without prior court orders. They do not know what is happening on the ground,” Duterte said of the Supreme Court justices, as he also threatened to put martial law critics in jail. Duterte on Monday warned martial law could continue beyond 60 days.

Source: Indian Express July 04, 2017 05:48 UTC