Duterte sees Marawi conflict over in days

President Rodrigo Duterte is optimistic that the ongoing clash of state forces against the ISIS-linked Maute group will be over “in a matter of days,” saying the government is “winning the war” in Marawi City.

“The way it’s being evolving now, I think it will be a matter of days...Before the end of the month, matatapos na eh. We are winning the war, do not worry,” Duterte said in a speech to cops at Camp Quintin Merecido in Buhangin, Davao City.

Fighting has been going on in the Lanao del Sur capital since May 23, when the members of the Maute group seized several key installations in the city. Duterte, who was on a state visit in Russia, declared martial law over Mindanao for 60 days that evening.

Earlier this week, Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana said he expects clashes to end before Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address on June 24.

But the spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday said it was not setting any deadlines for the end of hostilities.

Once the situation in Marawi has stabilized, Duterte said he intends to “look into” how the Maute group got hold of a large supply of guns and ammunition.

“Before I left for Russia, I was told that there was massing of troops per intelligence reports. Hindi ko akalain na ganoon kadami ang bala na sa kanila nakuha at bakit sila nakapagtago,” he said.

Long war on terror

Duterte had to cut short his visit to Russia after the Maute group’s attack in Marawi City, as government troops attempted to arrest terror leader Isnilon Hapilon.

Duterte however said that “there’s no telling when” the fight with terrorists will end. 

“This will not go out of the scene within the next 10 years. Kung may anak ka sa PNP at PMA, aabutan pa nila itong gyera na ito. And this will be a bloody and brutal war,” he said.

Duterte also reiterated that he did not want to declare martial law, saying the move is considered “unpopular” for politicians.

“Personally, I don’t want it, lalo na kaming mga pulitiko. It makes us unpopular eh. Kasi parang magulo ang bayan mo, hindi mo kontrolado,” Duterte said.

“But part of my mandate is to preserve and defend the Filipino nation. ‘Yan an oath office ko,” he said. —JST, GMA News