LAPU-LAPU CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte assured on Sunday, June 4, that the military would be able to eliminate terrorist groups in Marawi City.
In his speech during his visit to the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base here, Duterte reiterated that he would not negotiate with the Maute group and suspected members of the Islamic State, who have been occupying some parts of the city.
The chief executive ordered the troops to further intensify their offensive against the Islamist militants.
“Nagpunta kayo dito naghanap ng gulo sa Pilipinas, lalo na kayong mga foreigners, you are the extremist guys, you do not want to do nothing with the world except to kill and destroy. Eh kung ‘yon ang gusto ninyo ibibigay ko talaga sa inyo,” Duterte said before members of military and police who successfully foiled an attack of Abu Sayyaf bandits in Bohol last April.
[You came here and looked for trouble in the Philippines, especially you foreigners, you are the extremist guys, you do not want to do nothing with the world except to kill and destroy. If that’s what you want, I’ll really give it to you.]
“I will not negotiate. Wala akong pakialam kung anong gawain ninyo ngayon diyan. You do it because pag-abot ng panahon, kung nakakaintindi kayo ng Bisaya, I will not spare your life,” he added.
[I will not negotiate. I don’t care what you do there now. You do it because when the time comes, if you understand the Visayan language, I will not spare your life.]
The chief executive said he would give all the support to the military, including more defense and air assets and additional troops to end the crisis in Marawi.
He lamented that he had lost scores of soldiers and policemen from the Maute attacks but said the military would not stop until they have freed the city of terrorist groups.
“You started the ruckus, we did not ask for it, you were all along brutal and cruel. At hindi ako papayag ng ganon… Magkaubusan na tayo diyan. We have crossed the bridge of rubicon, ika nga. Hindi ako aatras diyan,” he said.
[And I will not let it be like that…even if it means we wipe out each other. As the saying goes, we have crossed the bridge of rubicon. I will not retreat there.]
Duterte said it could have been easier for the government to eliminate the Maute group in Marawi but laws and various agreements and treaties had prevented military troops from doing so.
“They (military) cannot just fire at will at all people because we are government and we are bound by rules. We are bound by agreements and we are bound by treaties. And even without that, we should know that we are fighting fellow Filipinos,” he said.
The President flew in straight to Cebu from Subic, Zambales to attend the traditional boodle fight with soldiers.
He thanked them for remaining true to their mandate of protecting the country from all threats especially terrorism.
Duterte and the military feasted on rice, pancit, fish, pork lechon, scrambled eggs and fruits during the communal meal.