Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a news conference in Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines on May 24, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)
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Duterte also invited Muslim rebels to join the Philippine military in the fight against ISIS militants. He accepted the offer of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to integrate some 2,000 to 3,000 of its fighters into the Armed Force of the Philippines to help crush the Maute group. Government security forces are fighting 250 Maute militants holed up in Marawi. The group has pledged loyalty to ISIS.