A leadership row erupted in the Philippine House of Representatives on live TV Monday, delaying President Rodrigo Duterte's delivery of his annual state of the nation address and passage of crucial Muslim autonomy legislation aimed at ending one of Asia's longest Muslim rebellions.

The proposed deal is the latest significant attempt by the government to negotiate an end to nearly half a century of on-and-off Muslim fighting that has left more than 120,000 people dead and displaced about 2 million others.

In his State of the Nation Address before members of the Philippine Congress, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte promised that his administration, "will never deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the basic legal tools to charter (their) own destiny within the constitutional framework of our country."

"Give me 48 hours to sign it and ratify the law," he added.

Aside from the Muslim autonomy pact, Duterte reaffirmed his resolve to fight illegal drugs.

He was also expected to introduce a draft constitution that would shift the country to a federal system of governance.

The moves, including opening the country's 1987 constitution to amendment, have been opposed by several groups and opposition politicians, who fear they are designed to prolong Duterte's rule and give him dictatorial powers.

Thousands of protesters rallied outside the House, where Duterte was to speak.

Duterte, who took office in 2016, has played down such fears, saying he is ready to step down as early as next year and cut short his six-year term before a new federal government is put in place.

Gloria Arroyo, a former president, tried to speak from the stage during the dramatic standoff that erupted in the Philippine House of Representatives on Monday but her microphone was turned off.

Arroyo, backed by dozens of allied legislators, took the main seat in the center stage of the House's plenary hall in a sign that she was taking over the post of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

She tried to yell, apparently to explain what was happening, but later stepped away from the stage, waving at the crowd.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Manila - 23 July 2018

1. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte walking towards podium

2. News conference hall

3. Cameramen

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"Two years later, my solid commitment to directly and decisively address our nation's collective challenges remains. It has not wavered. In truth, it has even gotten stronger through adversity and the desire to give the people the most we can."

5. Audience listening to the president's speech

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"The war against illegal drugs is far from over."

7. Wide of Senate President Vicente Sotto and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez listening to Duterte

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"The illegal drugs war will not be sidelined. Instead, it will be as relentless and chilling, if you will, as of the day it began."

9. Wide of news conference

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"Your concern is human rights. Mine is human lives."

11. Cutaway to cameramen filming at session hall

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"One road leads to harmony and peace. The other, to war and human suffering."

11. Wide of Sotto and Alvarez listening to Duterte

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"This administration will never deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the basic legal tools to charter own destiny within the constitutional framework of our country. When the approved version is transmitted and received by my office, the law has been passed actually and I intend to – give me 48 hours to sign it and ratify them."

13. Pull out of protest

14. Wide of protesters holding their fists up

15. Protesters holding placards, reading (English): "#DefendDemocracy", "#NeverAgain" and "#StandForJustice."

16. Placard reading (English) "They'll make you DEAD or they'll make you POOR"

17. Protester in a mock "Deadpool" character costume lying on the ground holding a placard reading (English) "They'll make you DEAD or they'll make you POOR"

18. Various of an effigy of the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte being burned

19. SOUNDBITE (English): Renato Reyes, protest leader:

"We're quite happy with the results. A lot of people came - that goes to show that there is real interest in defending human rights, there's real interest in fighting for democracy. One insight that congress, it seems that they are fighting it out, trying to one up each other. Here outside, people are more united. So that's a very good thing."

20. Various of former Philippine president and current congress woman Gloria Arroya being sworn in

21. Arroyo waves to audience

22. Arroyo tests podium microphone