Top court upholds year-long martial law extension in S. Philippines

MANILA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Court (SC) in the Philippines upheld on Tuesday the constitutionality of placing the southern Philippine island of Mindanao under martial rule until the end of 2018.

Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said that the high court, voting 10-5, "finds sufficient, factual basis for the issuance of resolutions of both houses and finds it constitutional."

In May last year, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte initially declared martial law for 60 days on the island of Mindanao, after militants linked to so-called Islamic State (IS) laid siege to Marawi City in May, triggering a five-month fierce fighting between army and terrorists.

Before it lapsed in July last year, Duterte asked Congress to extend martial law until Dec. 31, 2017.

In December, Duterte again formally requested the Congress to extend martial law in the entire Mindanao until Dec. 31, 2018 in order for the government to "quell completely" the threat of terrorism.

Duterte's political foes have filed petitions to the Supreme Court, questioning the martial law extension.

The court dismissed the petitions, saying it found "sufficient, factual basis" in Congress' arrival of Duterte's request for a one-year extension on martial law in Mindanao, Te said. Enditem