This prompted individuals both national and foreign to take sides on Duterte's actions. This also led Syrian national Ayman Jahjah to give a message to the Filipinos.
"As a Syrian citizen who has lost many people and things in my home country, my advice to all people from the Philippines: Stand by your president. He is your best choice to make your country safe and strong" the Syrian national said.
In another Facebook post of Jahjah, he said that he admire Duterte's style of counter-terrorism and his efforts against crimes and drug dealers. "This is the only way to stop all this ISIS circus," he said.
The on-going Maute clash began after government troops raided the hideout of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon in Marawi City, a largely Muslim city in the island of Mindanao. Hapilon, an Arabic-speaking preacher known for his expertise in commando assaults, has pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2014 and has called for reinforcement from its ally, the Maute Group.
Due to the continuing gunbattle in Marawi city, the Philippine government stepped in, prompting Duterte to declare Martial Law in the entire island of Mindanao. The said declaration will help government forces carry out searches and arrests and detain rebel suspects more quickly. A phenomenon quite similar to what is happening in Syria wherein the government took matters into their own hands to resolve the crisis they are facing.
The on-going Syrian war started last Marh 15, 2011 due to the high rate of unemployment, widespread corruption, a lack of political freedom and state repression under President Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his father, Hafez, in 2000. The government's use of deadly force to crush the dissent soon triggered nationwide protests demanding the president's resignation. The violence rapidly escalated and the country descended into civil war as hundreds of rebel brigades were formed to battle government forces for control of the country.
Source : Hidden Truth PH, BBC News, PhilStar, Ayman Jahjah
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