Duterte had warned of ‘Isis disease’

Islamic State flag recovered in Sinsuat, Maguindanao, last month. —6TH INFANTRY DIVISION

President Duterte had warned of the threat posed by the presence of the Islamic State (IS) in the Philippines as early as August, less than two months into his term, Malacañang said on Friday.

Responding to analysts who said the war on terrorism had taken a backseat to his war on illegal drugs, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Mr. Duterte had told the military to be ready to face the “Isis disease.”

Extremist groups that have pledged allegiance to IS have laid siege to Marawi, where their battle with government forces has been going on for more than a month.

The attack had prompted Mr. Duterte to place Mindanao under martial law starting May 23.

“Let me remind you that as early as August last year, or one and half months after PRRD assumed the presidency, the President already told the Philippine military to be ready with Isis and warned that the country would be plagued with the Isis disease,” Abella said in a press briefing in Davao City.

In a statement sent to reporters in Marawi City on Friday, Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the total number of killed soldiers as of Thursday evening was at 82, up from 71 as of 6 p.m. of June 27.

The number rose to 75 on June 28, and then another seven deaths were reported the following day to bring the death toll to 82.

Eleven soldiers have been reported killed in two days in the fighting in Marawi as of 6 p.m. on Thursday, according to latest figures from authorities.

According to Abella, the President has been taking a “whole systems approach” in combating extremism.

“At the end of the day, it’s really a whole systems approach of government that will look after economics, social injustice, law and order, peace, and also a sense that we all belong to one nation,” he said.

Abella said Malacañang welcomes assistance from the country’s foreign allies in the rebuilding of Marawi although he denies that there is a humanitarian crisis in the city.

“It is normal for friends and allies to support each other … And after all, we have our shared commitment with other countries to combat terrorism and attain sustainable peace,” Abella said.

On Wednesday, President Duterte invited allies who share the principle of noninterference in domestic affairs to join efforts to rebuild Marawi.

“As our troops wrap up our operation against the remaining terrorists in Marawi, I also welcome our international partners into looking forward to rebuilding this city. This invitation extends to our allies who share with us the principles of goodwill and noninterference in our domestic affairs,” Mr. Duterte said at Clark Air Base, Pampanga.

The President has compared the scourge of Islamic extremism to that of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi ideology, even as he warned the fight against groups allied with the IS could take years to win.

Mr. Duterte said the drug-fueled rebellion now happening in Marawi was being waged by a “brutal and cruel group” which is “an international insanity.”

“There’s no telling when will this war would end,” he said.

“There’s less enemy to contend with, less resistance, less fighting,” Mr. Duterte, in a press briefing after meeting with members of the police regional command, said when asked about his earlier statement that fighting in Marawi will soon be over. —WITH JEOFFREY MAITEM