2017-05-26 16:25:00

Philippine island under lockdown as army battles militants


(Vatican Radio) “There’s a great sense of tension” on the Philippine island of Mindanao, according to Seán Patrick Lovett, the head of Vatican Radio’s English Section. In a telephone interview from Davao City, Lovett describes the situation in Mindanao under martial law: “We are under a state of martial law. Martial law means that there is a curfew… the mayor of Davao has put out a warning to foreigners not to go outside, because of fear and abductions and kidnappings; there are military checkpoints at different places around the city.” The city, he said, “is literally in lock down.”

Listen:

The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, declared martial law in the southern region of Mindanao on Thursday, after militants linked with the so-called Islamic State attacked the city of Marawi, about 250 km northwest of Davao City. The militants burned buildings in Marawi and taken about a dozen hostages, including the rector of the Cathedral and a number of parishioners. As of Friday evening there is no word on the fate of the hostages. 








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.