Foreign fighters among militants in Philippines

Duterte cut short a visit to Russian Federation and placed the southern island of 22 million people under military rule on Tuesday, and said he would keep it that way for a year if necessary.

He said Malaysians, Indonesians, Singaporeans and "other foreign jihadists" were fighting in Marawi, one of the biggest Muslim cities in the mainly Catholic Philippines with about 200,000 residents.

Duterte said a local police chief was stopped at a militant checkpoint and beheaded, and added that he may declare martial law nationwide if he believes the group has taken a foothold.

"What is happening in Mindanao is no longer a rebellion of Filipino citizens".

To justify his martial law proclamation, the Commander-in-Chief may have to prove actual Maute-ISIS connection (not mere "inspiration") when he submits to the Congress not later than 10 p.m. today the proclamation that he issued 10 p.m. Tuesday (6 p.m.in Moscow same day). It would not be any different from what President Marcos did.

"If I think you should die, you will die". If it's over with a month, then I'd be happy. "I have a serious problem in Mindanao and the ISIS footprints are everywhere".

Two soldiers and a policeman were killed and 12 people wounded in Marawi, where Maute fighters took over buildings and set fire to a school, a church and a jail.

Hundreds of civilians, including children, were sheltering in a military camp in Marawi City on Thursday.

"The city is still under the control of the armed group".

Government troops frisk a Muslim man at a checkpoint leading to Marawi city three days after Muslim militants lay siege in the city in southern Philippines Thursday, May 25, 2017. The city of Marawi was still largely sealed off Thursday, although automatic gunfire and explosions could be heard. "When we came out there were blood stains in the building but we did not see dead or wounded". Protest leader Teddy Casino warned that there might be more extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.

Duterte has frequently raised the prospect of martial law amid outbursts of violence in Mindanao. According to the constitution, Duterte has until Thursday night to explain his decision to congress.

Fifty-percent of reinforcements have entered the city as of Wednesday afternoon.

The United States has since 2001 offered a bounty of $5 million for Hapilon's arrest.

The official said they were still validating a report that terrorists snatched off a parish priest and about a dozen parishioners from St. Mary's Cathedral. The black flags of the Islamic State group were planted atop buildings and flown from commandeered vehicles, including a government ambulance and an armored auto, said Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., vice governor of Lanao del Sur province.

Authorities however have yet to confirm the number of slain civilians amid social media reports that the extremists allegedly singled out and killed several residents.

Duterte has warned repeatedly that Mindanao, an impoverished region beset by decades of unrest by separatist and Marxist guerrillas, was at risk of "contamination" by Islamic State fighters driven out of Iraq and Syria.

"This is not a reflection of a major conflict looming, but this is a reflection of the capacity of our security forces to respond to any threat", he said.

All these groups are inspired by the Islamic State group, but so far there is no sign of significant, material ties.