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Martial law, declared by Philippine President Duterte for Mindanao, came after 11 military personnel and 31 militants were killed in the city of Marawi on Tuesday. Security has since tightened on the island's most populous city, Davao.
The Philippine military says foreign terrorists are now in the country. At a press conference on Friday, a spokesperson said the military remains committed to protecting the public.
At a major venue leading to downtown Davao, vehicles are stopped for security checks, with cargo being opened and passengers questioned. Armed military personnel are stationed at these checkpoints as a part of the strict security policy.
Davao is the most populous city on Mindanao Island, currently under martial law since its capital city, Marawi, was attacked by terrorists on Tuesday. People now spend hours in line, but no one is complaining.
CGTN’s Ma Ke reports that many say they have fear towards the terrorists and the possibility of more attacks, but still have faith that the government is capable of keeping the situation under control.
The city was shut down completely on Tuesday when the attack first happened. But the security level has been turned down to "maintain secured." Davao is back to fully functioning now, and locals have grown used to the daily checks when they leave or enter the city.
But authorities say residents still need to remain "highly alert" because history has shown the city might be an easy target for radicalized assailants. In September 2016, at least fifteen people were killed in a terrorist attack on the night market.
(CGTN)
