Pres. Duterte pays tribute to Marawi soldiers and policemen

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, November 21, graced the opening ceremonies of an interactive art installation exhibit paying tribute to government troops who fought the rebellion in Marawi City.

The exhibit, which shows photos of the soldiers and policemen during and after the Marawi siege, is being held from November 21 to December 5 at the Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

In his speech, the President recalled that he gets affected by the criticisms during the crisis in the Islamic City.

“Kaya if there’s anybody na medyo mabigat... sensitive ako. Kaya every time na a criticism sa Marawi which I think is not good, nagre-react talaga ako passionately also,” he said.

The President also shared that there was a time he got pissed off reading the briefer on the Marawi crisis, adding that he is pained knowing that some of his soldiers got killed.

“Dumating ‘yung panahon na hindi ko na binabasa, itinatapon ko na lang,” he said.

“I mean I got pissed off really reading the so many… Hindi naman tayo na lahat na nakakapatay eh, namamatayan tayo. It pains me deeply to think of their families,” he said, adding that this is one of the reasons that compelled him to visit Marawi City many times.

The President then discussed plans of building a military camp in Marawi City. “Kaya this time before anything else, before even the rebuilding is completed, I will build a military camp just in front of them and para masiguro ko that all of these things will never happen again,” he said.

“Lalagyan ko ng according to the military minds, baka a regiment would do, just right in front of them,” he added. (PND)