President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday (June 20) visited wounded troops sent to a hospital in neighboring Cagayan De Oro City to award medals and raise his soldiers’ morale, the same day he made his first visit to Marawi evacuees in Iligan City.
Fighting in Marawi City has entered a fifth week, and nearly 350 people have been killed, according to an official count. Fleeing residents have said they have seen scores of bodies in the debris of homes destroyed in bombing and cross-fire.
Philippine aircraft and troops launched a renewed push against Islamist militants in a southern city on Tuesday and a military spokesman said the aim was to clear the area by the weekend Eid festival, although there was no deadline.
The offensive came amid worry that rebel reinforcements could arrive in the city after Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The President made his visit to the wounded soldiers on Tuesday, the same day that he also made his first visit to Marawi residents displaced by the fighting who were staying in an evacuation center, a school in nearby Iligan City.
He apologized to the Marawi evacuees, saying he had no choice but to declare martial law to save the city from being taken over by Islamist-inspired terrorists who were also being reportedly helped by some foreign fighters.
President Duterte said that he was very very sorry for the damage done by street battles and government air strikes in Marawi City.
“I had no choice. They (militants linked to Islamic State) were destroying Marawi. I have to drive them out, but I am very sorry,” he said at the school in Iligan City, about 40 km (25 miles) from the battle zone.
Duterte also answered reporters’ questions when he visited the wounded-in-action soldiers at Camp BGen. Edilberto Evangelista Station Hospital, 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City.
