Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Monday that Islamic State militants driven out of Syria and Iraq could set up in his country, and if that happened he would forego human rights obligations to keep his people safe.
Duterte said the southern Philippine province of Mindanao is already a hotbed of rebellion and banditry and he is worried about "looming terrorism" and an influx of extremists who could exploit the insecurity.
"Once the terrorists of the Middle East are deprived of the land area, the real estate area where they can sleep ... they will wander to other places and they will come here and we have to prepare for that," he said during a speech at a law enforcement agency.