<p>Protests against a decision by the Philippines government to back President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan</a> to extend martial law were called on December 13 but drew only small crowds. Rappler reported</a> about 50 people gathered at the House of Representatives.</p><p>Student groups also called for indignation rallies</a> in response to the decision. This video shows a student protest in Manila.</p><p>Martial law was declared on the island of Mindanao in May, 2017, as government forces fought Islamist rebels</a> with links to Islamic State (IS) militants in the city of Marawi.</p><p>Filipino forces officially withdrew</a> from Marawi in October, 2017, after a declaration that the city had been liberated. Duterte has said that rebels who survived the assault were still determined to set up an IS governorate. Credit: Facebook/Sam Whosoever Pascual via Storyful</p><br />
