Duterte to discourage celebration of Marawi victory

Troops to leave the city 'quietly'

MANILA, Philippines — There would be no need for the country to celebrate once the besieged southern city of Marawi is liberated from ISIS-linked terrorists, President Duterte said on Thursday, as he ordered troops to leave the city “quietly.”

“It is a very sad incident in the life of a soldier. But I would insist that we also have… Not really a celebration because walang nanalo dito eh,” Duterte told reporters during his fifth visit to Marawi, adding that he prefers to hold a thanksgiving Mass instead.

“And sabi ko nga sa mga sundalo, ‘We will not have any celebration. After all has been said and done, we will just go out quietly.’ Pack their things and go home,” he added.

On May 23, the president placed the entire Mindanao region under military rule after a band of homegrown terrorists loyal to ISIS overran Marawi City.

After the declaration reached the 60-day limit, Congress overwhelmingly voted to extend martial rule in the strife-torn region until yearend.

In the same media interview on Thursday, Duterte promised to lift the military rule he imposed once military operations in Marawi is done and when it is “safe” in Mindanao.

“It will be lifted anytime after things are all ready. There’s a clean up and we can make sure that it does not end with the physical fighting. There’s much to be done,” he said.

“The catchword is when it is safe here in Mindanao, there is no of spillage of men. As long as it remains manageable and the police can take care of it,” he added.

At a forum in Manila on Friday, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon revealed that troops are closing in on the terrorists, as the main fighting ground shrinks to the areas near Lake Lanao.

Hermogenes said that Duterte's recent visit to Marawi City was an indication that the crisis may soon be over. — with a report from Audrey Morallo