Duterte's claiming of full responsibility in 'misencounter' a morale booster —Army

Philippine Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Louie Villanueva on Saturday said President Rodrigo Duterte's comment that he is taking full responsibility over the recent "misencounter" between the military and police has boosted the troops' morale.

"The president is the AFP's Commander in Chief. He is the supreme commander of the military where overall responsibility lies with him. By taking full responsibility of the misencounter incident in Samar, he is just assuming that inherent task that speaks well of his courage and commitment that no other president could have it done," he said.

"His statement is a morale boosting and the entire Phil Army is in support of him," Villanueva added.

Six police officers were killed while nine others were wounded following a "misencounter" on June 25 in Santa Rita, Samar, Police Regional Office 8 director Chief Superintendent Mariel Magaway said.

Elements of the 805th Mobile Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8 were conducting minor combat operations when they were fired upon by elements of the Philippine Army's 87th Infantry Battalion in Barangay San Roque.

On Friday, while addressing soldiers and policemen at a festival in Tacloban City, Duterte said the "ultimate blame" was on him being the commander-in-chief of all armed forces.

"I'd like to tell you that the ultimate blame, fault is on me being the commander-in-chief. I do not want to use the word but ako po 'yung pinaka [lider] nila," Duterte said in his speech.

Both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are conducting an investigation on the incident. —KG, GMA News