President Rodrigo Duterte during the 119th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy held at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City last May 31, 2017. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said he has relatives who joined the Maute group who launched an attack in Marawi City a month ago which prompted him to place Mindanao under Martial Law.
During his speech at the dinner hosted in Malacañan in celebration of Eid’l Fitr Tuesday night Duterte said a cousin of him even died in the city.
“May mga pinsan ako nandoon sa Maute, aba kala ninyo. Because they were there, a cousin of mine died. Nagpunta sila doon, isang truck (I have cousins there with the Maute. They went there on a truck),” he said.
Duterte said it’s one reason why he is not happy with his declaration of Martial Law.
He also said he does not even talk about the issue even with the members of his Cabinet.
“Kaya I do not even want to talk about it. Maski kami diyan sa Cabinet kasi nasasaktan ako,” Duterte said.
Duterte said if what the local terror groups who attacked Marawi did an uprising similar to the rebellion of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front he would even considered talking with them.
“I can endure a war with you and I can even plead peace with you. I won’t have any problem and I will understand why we are fighting and killing each other,” he said.
However, he said what happened in Marawi is caused by a “fractured ideology”.
“All that they want is to kill and destroy. Paano tayo mabubuhay niyan? (How will we live?)” he said.
Speaking before government officials and Muslim leaders, Duterte vowed to rehabilitate Marawi City.
He said he will look for funding for the “long-term” rehabilitation of the war-torn city.
The government has already allocated P20 billion for the rehabilitation of Marawi.
China has already donated on Tuesday P15 million which will augment the relief and rehabilitation efforts of the social welfare and health departments.
The check was presented to Duterte by Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua.
Duterte is the first Philippine president who hails from Mindanao. He also said his mother has Maranao roots.(davaotoday.com)
