QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte vowed that the military offensive against Islamist radicals, including the Maute group, will continue until the last terrorist is taken out.
“We will not go out there until the last terrorist is executed,” he said.
During his speech at the 50th Araw ng Davao del Sur held at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City on Saturday, July 1, the
President also sympathized with the soldiers fighting for the city’s liberation from the Maute group.
He said he always prays that the war will end soon because he does not like people dying.
“Sometimes I cry for the soldiers who died fighting these terrorists. I am the commander-in-chief,” Duterte said.
“I am also angry for my compatriot Maranaos… why did you allow the terrorists to come in?” he asked.
The President vowed he would “never compromise” with the Islamist terrorists, including the Maute group.
I will never, never compromise with the terrorists,” Duterte said as he deplored how the Maute terrorists had “corrupted” Islam.
“They (Maute and Islamist terrorists) have no ideology. They have corrupted Islam. You gain nothing from their nationalism,” Duterte said.
The 72-year-old controversial Philippine leader said he grieves every time that he reads the report on government casualties in Marawi city.
“So every time I read the casualties, it’s very unsettling. I do not know what I will do, but I cannot stop the fighting because I will never, never, never compromise with terrorism,” he said.
“I am today with a heavy heart because by the time I reach home, there is a briefer which reveals the narratives,” he said.
“It’s a sort of a journal like the police but it’s thick, it’s a narrative of today’s events that’s happening in Marawi and I get to read the so many soldiers and police who are dying,” Duterte added.
The President said he felt responsible for the deaths of the government troops.
“I have this guilt feelings but this is my job. My only consoling issue there is that I have to do it because it is my constitutional duty to preserve and defend the Filipino people,” he said.
“If there is one person in this Republic, in this country who is really traveling with a heavy heart, it’s me because I ordered the Armed Forces and the police to go there and fight and perhaps, to die,” he explained.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar also said this was the reason why the government is not negotiating with the terrorist group in order to free the hostages of the Maute Group.
According to Andanar, the military is doing its best to fight against the terrorist and to stop the war in Marawi city
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