Despite break from public eye, AFP says Duterte on top of Marawi crisis

While President Rodrigo Duterte has been keeping out of public events, he has continued giving guidance to the country’s top military brass in connection with the Marawi City crisis.

At a press briefing Friday, military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. indicated that Duterte was on top of the military operations against the ISIS-inspired Maute group in Marawi even though he's taking a break.

“Patuloy po siyang nagbibigay ng guidance sa chief of staff at kay Secretary. So may telepono naman po tayo. May mga secured facilities naman po tayo na kung saan maaari niyang matawagan at makausap ang ating mga senior leaders,” Padilla told reporters at the Mindanao Hour, referring to AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

“Araw-araw po, nabibigay po sa kanya ‘yung update. Lalo na ngayon na may mga kaganapan po sa Marawi,” he added.

The Maute group attacked Marawi on May 23, prompting Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao while on an official trip in Russia. The President decided to come home as he felt his presence was needed in the country.

As of 6 p.m. of June 15, 225 enemy fighters have been killed in Marawi . A total of 59 government security forces have lost their lives. The continued offensive against the ISIS-linked group has displaced 63,430 families or 309,412 individuals.

“Just to assure you, he’s all right,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said of Duterte's week-long absence in public events.

Duterte decided to skip the 119th Philippine Independence Day flag-raising and wreath-laying rites on June 12. He has been out of the public eye since then, fueling health-related rumors. But Malacañang said that the 72-year-old commander-in-chief just needed to rest after weeks of grueling schedule because of the situation in Mindanao.

Special Assistant to the President Sec. Bong Go even released photos of Duterte taken Thursday to prove that he’s doing just fine.

Cabinet meeting

Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella also denied rumors that a Cabinet meeting was scheduled on Friday meant to spark speculations that Duterte was that unwell.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, and chief presidential legal counsel Sec. Salvador Panelo also said that there was no scheduled Cabinet meeting on Friday.

But Abella told reporters at the Mindanao Hour that the President intended to meet with his Cabinet once again next week either in Malacañang or Davao City. But there is no definite schedule yet. — RSJ, GMA News