President Duterte To Fly Back To Philippines As Soon As Possible Due To Marawi Terror Attack
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visit to
Russia will be cut short following his declaration of martial law in Mindanao
after clashes between government forces and a group inspired by the so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIS) left three people dead and several others injured..
In a press briefing on Tuesday night in Moscow, Russia where
President Duterte is on a four-day official visit, Foreign Affairs Secretary
Alan Peter Cayetano said that the President would not be staying on until the
24th and 25th of May, effectively cutting his trip there by two days.
Secretary Cayetano, who was recently appointed as Chief of
the Department of Foreign Affairs, said that Russian government officials
understood the situation and the need for President Duterte to fly back to
Manila as soon as possible to oversee government operations against fighters of
the Maute Group, a local terrorist organization allying itself with the
so-called IS.
The DFA Secretary said that he had spoken with his Russian
counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, about the Philippine government’s decision.
Secretary Cayetano said that the agreements scheduled to be
signed would still go through and that he would stay behind to attend to these.
“I have spoken to my counterpart here in Moscow and have
explained the situation, and they understand that the security of the Filipino
people especially in Marawi and the whole of Mindanao is a priority. They
understand that the presence of President Duterte is essential in the
Philippines,” Secretary Cayetano said.
On Tuesday, government forces clashed with Maute fighters in
Marawi City.
The fighting left two policemen and a soldier dead and
injured several others, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
The insurgents were able to take control of one government
hospital in Marawi as the Mayor called on government authorities to dispatch
security reinforcements to the besieged Mindanao city.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement that
it conducted a “surgical operation” following reports that Isnilon Hapilon and
some Abu Sayyaf members were in Marawi City.
President Duterte has warned crime and terrorist groups in
Mindanao in the past against forcing his hand to declare martial law.
President Duterte To Fly Back To Philippines As Soon As Possible Due To Marawi Terror Attack
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May 24, 2017
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