Lopez, Lenerry Vei B.

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'I love you all': Duterte rallies troops as

Marawi firefights rage on
ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 17 2017 06:31 PM

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday
gave troops in Butuan City a pep talk, urging them not to
lose heart as offensives against Islamic State-linked
terror groups in Marawi City continued amid a rising
death toll.
"I love you all. Mahal ko kayong lahat. Nasasaktan ako
kapag mayroong nadidisgrasya," Duterte told troops in
Butuan City.
It was the second in his back-to-back engagement after
five days of absence from the public eye since taking a
break following an exhausting camp tour last week.
The commander-in-chief reiterated his commitment to
buy brand new air assets and "war-grade" weapons for
the military to ensure that government forces would not
be at a disadvantage against the terrorists, apparently
backed by foreign fighters.
"Binibigay ko sa inyo lahat talaga pati yung modern
machines... Gamitin ninyo 'yung eroplano ko, 'yung
presidential planes to ferry the wounded," he said.
Duterte also told soldiers not to worry about the future
of their families as the government would pour in funds
to put up cooperatives for uniformed men's spouses, and
an educational program for their children.
"Just be a clever soldier. Gamitin mo na lahat ng instincts
mo to survive so you will have the time to see you
grandchildren," he said.
The president also reminded soldiers not to fear death
and leave everything "up to God."
Since the battle in Marawi City began on May 23, the
government has lost 59 soldiers. They were among at
least 300 people killed, including 225 militants and 26
civilians.
Also on Saturday, at least 400 more soldiers from
Western Visayas were deployed to Marawi City as troops
continued to scour the inner enclaves of the Islamic City
to flush out the terrorists.