Duterte: ISIS will never gain foothold in PHL

President Rodrigo Duterte declared that the terror group Islamic State would not be able to gain foothold during his administration because of the military's efforts to thwart it.

Comparing the "relentless effort" of the military to the gallantry of the Filipinos who defended Bataan in 1942, Duterte said they deserve to be honored for defending the country.

"I am especially pleased with our military's recent accomplishments against the Abu Sayyaf Group. Your efforts have brought us even closer to our ultimate objective of totally crushing the violent extremism at its roots," he said in a speech during the Araw ng Kagitingan celebration in Jolo, Sulu Tuesday.

"With this, I can confidently declare that ISIS will never gain foothold anywhere in the Philippines," Duterte added.

In January this year, the Jolo Cathedral was rocked by explosions that killed at least 20 individuals and wounded dozens.

Duterte promised the government would give the soldiers the assistance they need for their welfae and that of their families.

"During my time you will be rewarded with a good pay and service, and everything that you would need after," he said.

"Do not worry I have three years. I will see to it that you will have funds when you retire and that your school -- your children and their schooling will be assured even if we are no longer there either by natural or by any other means of saying goodbye to this world. Huwag kayong ma-ano,. . . I have your back covered," he added.

"Sabihin ko sa inyo, sa inyong ospital sa AFP 50 mil… Fifty million a month. Sa V. Luna, 50 million a month. Ang PGH (Philippine General Hospital), 64 million a year. Ngayon, 100 million a month," he said.

Duterte said he chose to spend Araw ng Kagitingan in Jolo because of its gallant soldiers.

"Dito ako pumunta sa Araw ng Kagitingan. Lahat ng Pilipino deserves the title kagitingan. But here in Jolo, ‘yung pinaka --- ang pinaka nandito. Kaya to the gallant men of Jolo, you have my everlasting gratitude for what you are doing to our country," he said. —Virgil Lopez/LDF, GMA News