Letter from Manila 2

Given the progress made in peace talks between the Philippine government and the jihadists of the south in recent years, we’ve been shocked to see the city of Marawi on Mindanao island go up in flames due to its occupation by the Isis-affiliated Maute terror outfit. We’re also anxious about President Dvuterte’s declaration of martial law in the region, which is scarily redolent of the iron handed Marcos era. Maute, which is named after the maniacal warlord family that runs it, appears to be better trained and feistier than other cells in Mindanao. It has resisted two months of aerial, artillery and ground attacks by the Philippine military, taken a Catholic priest plus 200 others hostage, and slain around 50 civilians and 75 government troops.