President Rodrigo Duterte says the war against terrorism in Marawi can be won without any help from other countries. During his visit to wounded troopers in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City, Duterte said he was not aware the the US troops are providing technical support to the soldiers fighting in Marawi City. (Zea Io Ming C. Capistrano/davaotoday.com)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines (Updated as of 11:55pm)— President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he is not aware of the role played by the US Special Forces in Marawi City.
“I am not aware of that until they arrived,” Duterte said in an interview with the press inside the Camp Brig. General Edilberto Evangelista on Sunday afternoon.
Duterte said when he declared Martial Law on May 23, he already gave powers to the Department of National Defense.
The President signed on May 23, Proclamation No. 216 putting the entire island of Mindanao under Martial Law as advised by the Army and police officials.
“When I declared martial law I gave the powers to the defense department, hindi ako nakikialam,” Duterte said, adding that the Philippine Army has “pro-American” sentiments.
Duterte said the Philippines is “not that powerful.”
“Maybe we do not have a technical expertise to it,” adding that it could be a reason why the Philippine Army is now being assisted by the US troops in intelligence sharing, training, and technical support.
“Pro-American talaga ang mga sundalo natin that I cannot deny… Yung away ko sa America, hindi sa Amerikano. P***** i**** Obama yan,” he said.
Duterte also added that he has not approached any country, not even from the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which he heads, to ask for help in fighting terrorism in Marawi. He said the government forces is capable of fighting.
“Wala, wala. I have not done that. I have not made an appeal. I said I did not even know that the American government has been providing technical… So we better see to our own… I never approached any American to say that, “Tumulong kayo.” (No, no, I have not done that. I have not made an appeal… I never approached any American to say “help us”)” Duterte said.
The military confirmed the assistance of US troops in the fighting in Marawi, but said that no US soldier is joining the ground battles.
Lt. General Carlito Galvez, commander of the Western Mindanao Command in a separate press conference here said the operations in Marawi is “all Filipino”.
“All operational matters, sa amin yun. lahat ng equipment na ginagamit natin sa atin,” he said.
Duterte has previously expressed his dismay on the meddling of the US officials including former President Barrack Obama on his war against the illegal drugs.
Following his openness to criticize the US State Department, Duterte also pronounced last year that the Philippines will shift its foreign policy as it now opens to non-traditional partners like Russia and China.
Duterte declared Martial Law while he was still in his official trip to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. (davaotoday.com)
