A group of opposition Philippine lawmakers on Monday asked the Supreme Court to nullify President Rodrigo Duterte's martial law proclamation to combat Islamist militants.

In a 31-page petition, the six House of Representatives politicians said the declaration was ‘bereft of sufficient factual basis’ and even contained ‘fatal inaccuracies and falsities.’  ‘The alleged facts contained in (the proclamation) and the president's report justifying the imposition of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus turned out to be mostly inaccurate, simulated, false and/or hyperbolic,’ the petition read.

Duterte declared martial law in the southern region of Mindanao on May 23 after militants laid siege to Marawi City, 800 kilometres south of Manila, where government forces tried to arrest a local leader of the Islamic State terrorist movement.

A majority of the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which by law can review and revoke martial law proclamations, have expressed support for the declaration, which is effective for 60 days.

Troops have so far killed 120 militants, including eight foreign fighters from Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Chechnya and Yemen in the fighting, which also left 39 government forces and 24 civilians killed.

Nearly 100,000 people have been displaced by the fighting and about 2,000 remain trapped in their homes, according to local officials.

The militants were believed to be holding more than 200 hostages, including a Catholic priest who had issued an appeal to Duterte to withdraw government forces and stop military offensives. 

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