Philippine President Pays Surprise Visit to Troops in Marawi

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a surprise visit to the besieged southern city of Marawi on Thursday, rallying troops fighting to retake the area overrun by militants backed by the Islamic State (IS).

Duterte flew into the city and donned fatigues as he was escorted straight to a military base, where he conferred with troops privately and inspected a cache of weapons seized from the enemy.

Members of the press were not allowed access for security reasons. Duterte flew out after spending nearly four hours with the soldiers.

“Our president went to Marawi to visit the troops. It was an intimate engagement with our police and soldiers,” local military spokesman Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera said.

He said troops appreciated Duterte’s strong support for the government forces, which have lost 99 troops since fierce clashes broke out in the city on Mindanao island on May 23.

“We are very happy with his visit,” Herrera said, describing the president as “very firm and dedicated.”

Military chief Gen. Eduardo Año said Duterte landed in Marawi as troops were trying to retake a key bridge – Mapandi Bridge in the downtown section – during a fierce gun battle with militants.

Duterte was given the latest Situations Update on the 59th day of the siege of the city.

“Just a minute before the choppers landed, there were a few sniper shots coming from unknown direction that targets the landing zone area,” Gen. Año said.

Apart from Año, Duterte was accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and other top officials.

Medical clinic, hospital captured from militants

Duterte’s visit came two days before Congress was to convene a special session to discuss the possibility of extending martial law, which he earlier declared over the entire southern Mindanao region to quell the rebellion.

In a letter to Congress, Duterte argued he needed more time to crush the uprising led by Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon, the acknowledged regional IS leader, and backed by the local Maute gang and fighters from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

It was a tacit acknowledgement that government forces would not be able to quell the fighting within days as the president said last week.

His government already sought the assistance of the United States and Australia, who are providing intelligence help. On Wednesday, Singapore said it was prepared to lend the Philippines long-range drones to assist forces in defeating the enemy.

As of Wednesday, according to the military, the fighting has left 421 militants and 45 civilians dead.

As many as 852 soldiers were wounded in the ongoing fighting. The military said the militants are entrenched in buildings in a small area in the center of the city, following air raids that have reduced the once scenic lakeside enclave into a landscape of pockmarked structures.

Herrera said that the number of enemy fighters had fallen to around 60, who are believed to be holding civilians, including a Catholic priest, hostage.

“Currently, our troops are still deployed in a vantage position to continue pursuing our enemies’ defensive positions. We are moving toward the center of the gravity,” Herrera said.

Soldiers had taken full control of the Sala’am and Maranaw Medical Clinic and hospitals in Lilod Madaya, one of the four villages here still under enemy control, he said.

“While we are closing in to the center of gravity, the more our enemies will be defensive,” he said, adding there were many stray bullets from the enemy side in cleared villages.