In the Philippines, former president Duterte calls for Mindanao independence as alliance with president Marcos breaks over constitutional reform

The Philippine government is ready to use “authority and forces” against attempts to divide the nation, a security official has said, after former president Rodrigo Duterte threatened to separate some southern islands from the rest of the archipelago. Duterte has called for the independence of his home region, Mindanao, from the Philippines as his alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr disintegrated this week over disagreements around efforts to amend the constitution. Marcos said amending the 1987 constitution was meant to ease foreign investments, but Duterte accused him of using constitutional change to stay in power. National security adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement any attempt to secede “will be met by the government with resolute force”, citing “recent calls to separate Mindanao” but without specifically naming Duterte. [...] Bangsamoro’s chief minister, Ahod Ebrahim, said in a statement [...] that he remained committed to the peace agreement. Government peace process adviser Carlito Galvez Jr called on Filipinos to “turn away from any call … to destabilise” the country.
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