Duterte sees end to Marawi crisis in 10-15 days

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday indicated that he needs 15 more days to end the crisis in Marawi City, where government forces are pursuing the remaining members of the pro-ISIS Maute group that attacked the city in late May.

"Palagay ko, 10 to 15 days, okay na," he said during the 10th listing anniversary of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Makati City. "I need 15 more days."

Duterte said he will once again try to go to Marawi City this week after his first two attempts failed due to bad weather. He reiterated that he wants to be with the soldiers while there is still fighting going on.

Echoing Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Duterte said he too was surprised that the Maute group was able to stockpile weapon in the city.

"This is the 45th, 46th day? Hindi maubus-ubos ang [armas], lalo na 'yung grenades," he said.

"Indicative target"

In a brief interview with reporters, Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Duterte's security adviser, said the president was just giving an "indicative target."

"Indicative target lang iyon," he said. "Hindi mo naman puwede sabihin sa labanan na 10 days lang, but that's an indicative target and we are determined to get that."

The Maute group attacked Marawi City on May 23, prompting Duterte to issue Proclamation No. 216 while he was on an official visit in Moscow, Russia. The document declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the entire Mindanao.

On Tuesday, Duterte did not indicate in his speech if he needs to extend martial law to end the Marawi crisis within the indicative target. The 60-day martial law implementation is set to expire on July 22. —KBK, GMA News