Duterte tells troops: Follow orders, don’t hesitate to kill because of civilians

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines told his troops to keep on engaging the enemies of the state even though civilians are still trapped in the war zone.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday also reassured the soldiers not to worry about the possible charges that could be filed against them, as the ongoing military operations against ISIS-inspired Maute group in Marawi City enters the fifth week.

“You just go ahead and do your—whatever is ordered. I will see you through and assure you, you will be a free man,” he said before the Presidential Security Group.

“We will face charges, minsan massacre. Alam mo ‘yang bala, lusot ng lusot ‘yan eh. Isang putok ng—isang squeeze ng Armalite, the burst is about three, four. You keep on pressing it, it can kill everybody behind,” he added.

Duterte explained that the civilians should have left or at least taken cover if they are caught in the firefight.

“‘Yung mga disgrasya na ‘yan, hindi na sinasadya. Do not hesitate to kill just because there are civilians there. It is the duty of the civilians to flee or seek cover. Kasi pagka giyera, giyera talaga ‘yan, either it’s you… That’s why I said, ‘I grieve,’” said the President.

In his second speech for the day in Pampanga, the President reiterated that he ordered the military and the police to shoot those who carry firearms inside Marawi City.

Duterte also said that the extremists like the ISIS or Islamic State have no redeeming factor.

"They have to be dealt with, with the same ferocity but not the brutality. We do not decapitate. We do not hang people. All we need is one shot and if he goes down, that’s it," he said.

AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. during the Mindanao Hour on Wednesday said the number of civilian casualties could still rise significantly because of the atrocities committed by the Maute group. As of June 27 at 6 p.m., 27 civilians were killed by the terrorists.

Padilla said the local government reported that around 500 civilians were still trapped in Marawi City.

Malacañang and military officials have repeatedly said that one of the objectives of operations in Marawi City is to rescue trapped civilians including those held hostages by the terrorists. — BAP, GMA News