Pres. Duterte vows full support for troops fighting Maute

President Rodrigo Duterte has promised full support for government troops fighting the Maute group in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province. (Photo: PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte has promised full support for government troops fighting the Maute group in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province.

“May full support kayo sa akin. (You have my full support.) I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel to look for money to see you through,” President Duterte told members of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Maria Cristina, Iligan City Friday.

In his speech before the soldiers, he vowed that his administration will provide everything they need.

“And because we have the weapons and the equipment, and we have the air assets to help you, we will try our very best na magamit lahat (to use all of them) to protect you at the time when you are fighting,” President Duterte said.

The Chief Executive also said he would take full responsibility for the outcome of martial law in Mindanao.

“Sasamahan ko kayo (I will be with you)… If you go down, I go down. But for this martial law and the consequences of martial law and the ramifications of martial law, I and I alone would be responsible.

Trabaho lang kayo. Ako na ang bahala (Just do your job and I will take care of the rest),” he said.

For the wounded soldiers, the President said there is a modernized hospital for them and that he has bought all the equipment needed.

President Duterte later proceeded to the Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital in Iligan City to visit 29 soldiers who were wounded in action, extending each a PHP100,000 check, part of the assistance they would receive.

He then went to St. Peter’s Funeral Homes in Iligan City to pay his last respects to fallen soldiers and policemen.

For the family of each dead policeman and soldier, PHP250,000 will be extended upon completion of requirements.

He also visited the wake of two civilian casualties, an ambulance driver and an ambulance utility personnel.