Duterte makes unannounced visit to Iligan City

President Duterte visits Army camp in Iligan City on Friday. /PHOTO by PCOO

ILIGAN CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte made an unannounced visit to the headquarters of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade in Barangay Maria Cristina here on Friday, Malacañang said.

The surprise visit of the President came amid rumors that he was going to fly to Marawi City – where 85 soldiers had already been killed as the fight between the military and the Maute Group continued for over a month now.

Malacañang said the President – accompanied by Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go and his close-in security – really wanted to visit Marawi City but the rains had prevented him from doing so.

Duterte, Malacañang said, assured anew soldiers during his visit here of his unwavering support to the troops in battling the Maute group.

Friday’s visit was the third for Duterte here since the Marawi crisis started on May 23.

He has yet to set foot in Marawi though even if he had repeatedly said he was visiting – mainly due to security concerns.