PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday told the military to kill all the terrorists holed up in Marawi City, even at the risk of harming civilians who are caught up in the battle.
Speaking before troops at the 120th anniversary of the Presidential Security Group on Wednesday, Duterte assured soldiers that he will protect those who follow his instructions.
“Do not hesitate to kill just because there are civilians there. It is the duty of the civilians to flee or seek cover,” the President said.
“We will face charges [of] massacre,” he continued. “You know, a bullet can hit through and through. For every shot, every squeeze [of the trigger, you get three or four bursts. Just keep on pressing it [until] it can kill everybody.”
The ongoing siege has already claimed hundreds of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents after terrorists from the Maute group stormed Marawi City on May 23 and flew the black flag of the Islamic State over the city.
On a separate occasion, Duterte played down suggestions that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front might be able to help negotiate with the Maute terrorists.
He said the fighting in Marawi would not stop “until the last terrorist is taken out.”
At the same time, Duterte said he was cutting many of his public engagements until the Marawi crisis is over, so he can focus on boosting the morale of soldiers fighting the Islamic State-inspired terrorists in the war-torn city.
“You know you’d see me less… less of me until the Marawi incident is over,” Duterte said at the 140th anniversary of the Philippine-Chinese Charitable Association in Manila Hotel on Wednesday night.
“Ill be at camps. Everyday, I’ll be flying to military camps really just to raise the morale,” he added, eliciting applause from the audience.
Earlier, Duterte tried to dispel rumours about his health by poking fun at those who were spreading rumors that he was in a coma.
The Palace had earlier said the President remains “alive and well” and experiencing no health problems despite his disappearance from the public eye for unusually long periods this month.
Known for a busy schedule and lengthy speeches—often several times a day—Duterte has been out of the limelight for long stretches of time this month, fueling rumors that he is suffering declining health.
Questions about Duterte’s health were first raised when he missed the Independence Day rites on June 12 and stayed out of sight until June 16.
The President was again absent from the public eye from June 21 to 25, but on June 26 (Tuesday) he resumed his public engagements. With Sandy Araneta