MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Philippine lawmakers approved the extension of the martial law in the southern Mindanao region until December 31, 2017, local media reported Saturday.
On Tuesday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte asked the country’s parliament to extend martial law on the island of Mindanao until the end of this year. The primary objective of the extension is to allow the country's forces to continue operations against terrorists in the region unhampered by deadlines, Duterte said.
The martial law was declared in Mindanao in May after the outbreak of the conflict between the Philippine security forces and the Islamic extremists, affiliated with the Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia), including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf jihadist groups.
