President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said martial law in Mindanao will be no different from the martial law period during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, saying he will deal harshly with terrorists.

In a video interview, the President told Filipinos not to be scared, saying he is cutting his short his trip to Russia to deal with the terrorist attack in Marawi City.

"Mga kababayan, do not be too scared. I am going home. I am cutting my visit here to be with my countrymen and I will deal with the problem once I arrive," he said in a Facebook Live interview with Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson.

He also pointed out that he had vowed to deal harshly with terrorism even during the presidential campaign.

"Let me just tell everybody that I have declared martial law for Mindanao. How long? Well, if it will take a year to do it, we'll do it. If it's over within a month, I will be happy. Pero ang martial law is martial law ha. So kayong mga kababayan ko, you have experienced martial law it will not be any different from what the President Marcos did. I'll be harsh."

"I have to do it to preserve the Republic of the Philippines."