Duterte vows no IS-type brutality

MANILA, Philippines - More than a month after declaring martial law in Mindanao, President Duterte has vowed to wage war on terror with ferocity, but without the brutality that the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute group is committing in Marawi City.

Duterte said on Tuesday night that martial law would remain until the last terrorist is out of Mindanao.

He said he would consult with Defense SecretaryDelfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año and Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa before lifting martial law.

“For as long as they say it’s not yet safe for anybody and everybody, martial law will remain in Mindanao and maybe, in some parts of the Visayas, if there is a spillover,” he said.

Duterte lashed out at the Maute group for its lack of ideology and senseless killing of civilians.

“We do not decapitate, we do not hang people. All we need is one shot, if it goes down, that’s it,” he said, adding that the Philippines has to abide by the rules of United Nations in the fight against the terror groups.

“I will not be part of any cruelty or brutality, but we will have the ferocity to defend our values, democracy and sovereignty,” he said.

Duterte, who had a full working schedule yesterday shuttling from Manila to Pampanga, was set to fly back to Davao last night.

In another event at the Manila Hotel, the President said he is unsure how long martial law in Mindanao would last.

“It is not my option, I will listen to defense and police officials and ask for their recommendations. If they say not yet, I cannot do anything,” he said, adding he would also seek Congress’ approval if martial law needs to go beyond 60 days as mandated by the Constitution.

Before his speech in Clark air base, Duterte cited the illegal drug trade in Marawi, which he believed helped fund terrorism.

It was Lorenzana, Año and Dela Rosa who urged the Chief Executive to take a stronger action against the Maute group.

Duterte also reiterated his support for the men who implemented his orders.

“I will never allow a policeman or a military man go to prison for doing his duty. That was my order. Everything that happens now is in accordance with my order, with martial law. I and I alone will be responsible for the things happening now and in the coming days,” he said.

More time in Mindanao

Meanwhile, unless the President has important engagements in Malacañang or in Metro Manila, he will spend most of his time in the next few weeks in Mindanao.

Duterte said he would also oversee the continued military assault against the IS-inspired Maute group in Marawi City.

The President is set to visit the city today weeks after he was prevailed upon by security officials not to go to the besieged town.

“I would be spending more time in Mindanao because there is still fighting. Every now and then, I go to the brigades to check on their morale, readiness and everything,” he said.

Duterte stressed that he would not be seen much in Malacañang in the next few weeks unless there is an important appointment.

For the past few weeks, the President had been prevailed upon by security officials not to enter Marawi as they deemed it still unsafe and dangerous because of remnants of Maute terrorists still holed up in the area.

“Gusto kong pumunta ng (I want to go to) Marawi. I think I’ll go there on Friday. It’s about too late in the day to be hesitating to go there. I will go there… Eh ‘di kung walang swerte, eh ‘di uwi ako dito cargo rin (If I have no luck, I will come home here also as cargo), C-130,” the President said during the 120th anniversary celebration of the Presidential Security Group Wednesday at Malacañang.

The President said he could just be sitting in his office while people as well as government forces suffer in Marawi.

He also explained that for the many days that people did not see him, he went on certain trips he had to take without people knowing about them.

He said he has been making the rounds of the military and police camps to make sure that the morale of the troops is high. – Christina Mendez, Edith Regalado