The so-called “Islamic State” (ISIS) is determined to take over the world. In order to do so, they’re actively terrorizing other countries. The Philippines has been one of the most recent targets of ISIS militants. Several days ago, roughly 50-100 attacked a city on one of the country’s Southernmost islands.

There’s still an ongoing attempt by local extremists to take over the region. Earlier this week, ISIS militants pulled over a truck full of people in the Philippines. They questioned the occupants and when they found out they were not Muslim, they tied them up and slaughtered them.

According to reports, a truck full of Christians was pulled over at an ISIS-controlled security checkpoint in Mawari, a city on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. They inspected the vehicle and questioned the 9 travelers about their religion. They knew that if they lied and said they were Muslim, they may not be harmed. Despite this, they decided to stand up for their religion and told them the truth.

When they discovered that they were all Christian, they tied them up, walked the bound prisoners over to a grassy field next to the road, and shot them dead. Locals claimed they were reluctant to move the dead bodies lying face down in the grass because they were afraid the terrorists were still in the area. A gruesome image of the aftermath can be seen below (Warning, graphic content):

Unfortunately, this was not the first time the militants used a checkpoint to ambush unsuspecting victims. In a similar roadside attack earlier this week, a police officer was captured by jihadists and beheaded.

The killings are being done by two slightly different terrorist organizations. The first is Abu Sayyaf, one of the smallest but most violent jihadist groups in the region, and Maute, a radical Islamist group who claim they’re the “Islamic State of Lanao.” Both groups have ties to ISIS and work alongside one another to spread terrorism throughout the Philippines.

They recently worked together to overrun Mawari to release captured jihadists from prison. Roughly 50-100 gunmen stormed two different jails in the city, managed to get the guards to surrender, and released over 100 prisoners, including many extremists. While in the city they also stole guns, commandeered a fire truck and police car, and torched buildings. Unsurprisingly, one of the buildings set on fire was a Catholic church. Before burning it down, they rushed in, kidnapped a priest and several churchgoers, and are currently holding them hostage.

The invasion took place shortly after Filippino security forces tried to arrest the leader of Abu Sayyaf, Isnilon Hapilon. When they arrived, Maute fighters ambushed them, forcing them to flee. That’s when the militants moved forward and invaded the city.

Upon hearing about the attacks, Rodrigo Duterte, the President of the Philippines, cut his trip to Russia short and returned home to declare martial law for 60 days to help the military eliminate the extremists. “I was asked how I would deal with terrorism. I said I’d be harsh. I told everyone, ‘do not force my hand into it,” Duterte told reporters shortly after making the decision to empower the military. “Checkpoints will be allowed. Searches will be allowed. Arrest without a warrant will be allowed in Mindanao,” he explained. “And I do not need to secure any search warrant or a warrant of arrest. If you are identified positively on the other side, you can be arrested and detained,” he continued.

In addition to warrantless searches, Duterte made it clear that his soldiers have orders to kill anyone that threatens them. “Anyone caught possessing a gun and confronting us with violence, my orders are shoot to kill. I will not hesitate to do it,” he stated, noting, “if I think that you should die, you will die. If you fight us, you will die. If there is an open defiance, you will die.” He added, “anyone now holding a gun, confronting government with violence, my orders are spare no one, let us solve the problems of Mindanao once and for all,” warning, “do not force my hands into it.”

His aggressive approach against the militants is not surprising. Last year, he warned them that if they come to the Philippines, they can “forget about human rights.” Specifically, he said, “I will not just simply allow my people to be slaughtered for the sake of human rights; that’s bullshit.”

With Duterte as president, the radical Muslim terrorists don’t stand a chance. He’s shown with his war on drugs that he’s willing to go to extreme lengths to stop what he thinks is a threat to national security. Other countries might consider employing similar strategies.