MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte warned Wednesday he may declare martial law throughout the country if terrorism spills beyond Mindanao in the conflict-torn south.
Duterte proclaimed martial law in Mindanao on Tuesday night after security forces clashed with the Maute group, an Islamic State-inspired local terrorist organization that was attempting to seize Marawi, a predominantly Muslim city.
"If I think that the ISIS has already taken foothold also in Luzon, I might declare martial law throughout the land to protect my country," Duterte said after getting back from a shortened visit to Russia. The Philippine archipelago has three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
