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Editor's note: This is a developing story. We will update this as new information
comes in.
MANILA, Philippines (First published May 24, 2017, 12:04 p.m.) — On the
seventh day of the Marawi crisis, we take a look at the questions at the heart of the
issue.
The declaration was announced in Russia where the president was supposed to spend
five days for an official visit. Duterte’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin was brought forward to allow his hasty return to the Philippines and deal with
the crisis, cutting short his trip.
At the beginning of the crisis, Lorenzana said dozens of gunmen occupied the city
hall—a claim countered by the Marawi City mayor. Numbers on how many Maute
reinforcements entered the city also varied. Most recently, a police chief Duterte
claimed was beheaded by militants said that he is safe.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the declaration would help government
forces carry out searches and arrests and detain rebel suspects more quickly.
READ: More details emerge on how Duterte made martial law decision
"It has transmogrified into an invasion by foreign terrorists who heeded the clarion
call of ISIS," he said.
However, foreign militants, including some of Asia’s most wanted, have had a
presence in Mindanao for decades.
Under Marcos rule, peace and order in Mindanao deteriorated with accounts of
massacre of men and rape of women.
Duterte has mentioned that the Maute and ISIS are also the same.
But Philippine and US security officials assert there is no formal ISIS presence in the
Philippines, citing the "worldwide phenomenon" where existing terror groups affiliate
themselves with ISIS.
"We have not seen any concrete evidence of material support from IS," military
spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said Thursday. He added that the smaller
groups "are working to really get that recognition and funds, of course."
Troops found corpses in the streets Sunday, including at least eight civilians who
appeared to have been executed. Thousands of civilians have streamed out of Marawi
and more than 2,000 were still trapped inside the city.
Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said a total of 12,509 families or 59,665
persons are displaced in Northern Mindanao and ARMM as of Monday.
Many sent desperate text messages begging to be rescued and reporting that their
homes had been destroyed, said Zia Alonto Adiong, an official in Lanao del Sur, one
of the country's poorest provinces.
Looting and burning of homes were also reported by eyewitnesses who have
evacuated the city. The militants also burned the St. Mary's Church, the city jail, the
Ninoy Aquino school and Dansalan College.Ninoy Aquino school and Dansalan
College.
Much of the city is a no-go zone. Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said
that combat operations were still going on, but that the militants were weakening.
"We believe they're now low on ammunition and food," he said, speaking by phone
from Manila, the capital. "Compared to the initial days, there has been increasingly
less resistance from the militants within Marawi."
A priest and several worshippers were taken hostage. There was no word on their
condition.
READ: Maute group frees 107 inmates amid clashes in Marawi City
Año predicted that the military operation would take about a week as soldiers go
house to house to clear the city of militants.