Philippines struggles to battle growing threat of ISIS
Over the weekend, the Southeast Asian country's President Rodrigo Duterte issued a bold proposal to break the standoff.
By REUTERSMembers of Philippine Marines are pictured aboard a vehicle as more soldiers reinforce to fight the Maute group in Marawi City in southern Philippines May 29, 2017(photo credit: REUTERS/ERIK DE CASTRO)
A grinding fight against Islamist militants in the Philippines hit a seventh day on Monday, as at least 85 people have been killed in the southern city of Marawi, including civilians.The military says it has managed to reclaim half the city through block-by-block sweeps, but its hitting fierce resistance from teams of militant snipers holed up on rooftops.Over the weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte had a bold proposal to break the standoff, calling for other Filipino rebel groups to join the fight, from Muslim separatists to Maoist guerrillas.With fears growing that Islamic State is seeking a presence in the country, Duterte offered to pay and even house fighters from groups that have long opposed the Philippine state if they would work to defeat a common enemy, the Maute group.Duterte said the idea of militias and soldiers fighting together had come from the leader of one of the separatist groups.Maute militants have pledged allegiance to Islamic State and have been battling government troops since laying siege to a southern city six days ago.During a visit on Saturday to an army base on Jolo island, where Philippine forces are fighting another Islamist group, the Abu Sayyaf, Duterte said he would treat communist and separatist guerrillas the same as government troops if they join his fight."I will hire you as soldiers - same pay, same privileges, and I will build houses for you in some areas," Duterte said, according to a video of his speech made available on Sunday.He made the unconventional offer to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front. He also asked the communist New People's Army (NPA) to abandon its protracted guerrilla war and work with his government.The military was using attack helicopters, artillery and ground troops on Sunday to try to take back Marawi City on Mindanao island, where Maute militants are putting up heavy resistance.
Sixty one rebels, 15 security forces and nine civilians have been killed in the violence, while tens of thousands of people have been displaced.The MILF and MNLF have waged a separatist rebellion since the late 1960s and have signed separate peace deals with the government, but those agreements have yet to be fully implemented.Duterte's offer to the Maoists comes after his government canceled the latest round of peace talks with the NPA's political arm, accusing the rebels of planning more attacks."If this drags on, and you want to join, take your chance with the Republic," Duterte said.There were no immediate reaction from leaders of the groups to Duterte's offer.Duterte said the founder and leader of the MNLF, Nur Misuari, had sent him a letter volunteering his men to join the battle in Marawi and other parts of Lanao del Sur province.The president said he could create a new army division to accommodate the Muslim and Maoist rebels, which he said had battle experience and mastery of the local terrain.