Bad weather forces Duterte to cancel visit to Marawi

Where to, boss? President Duterte is bravely attired during his visit to 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Iligan City. PHOTO/PCOO

President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to visit Marawi City on Friday but cancelled it due to bad weather.

In an interview posted on the Facebook page of the Presidential Communications Office (PCOO), Duterte said he wanted to personally check the condition of the troops in the conflict-torn city.

It was Mr. Duterte’s second attempt to visit the city, some portions of which are still occupied by Maute terrorists, but a squall prevented the presidential aircraft from landing.

“I have to be with the men, the fighting forces of the government. I should show my face there. Hindi naman pwede iyang peace time ka na pumunta,” the President said.

“Hindi naman na you place yourself in jeopardy, but during the fighting, you should show yourself, that you are one in the desire to protect the Republic,” he added.

Photos released by Malacañang showed Duterte visiting the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Iligan City. He was seen wearing the new camouflage uniform of the Philippine Army with a rifle slung on his right shoulder.

“This is the second time. The last time I was not able to go in because also of the weather,” the President said.

“It’s the same. We were circling many times but we could not penetrate the squall,” he said.

“So, we waited in the camp for the skies to clear up but…it was raining the whole day,” he added.

The President tried to visit the city on June 8 but bad weather forced the cancellation of his plans.

This time around, Mr. Duterte said he wanted to visit Marawi to show his support for the government troops, who had been fighting the terrorists since May 23.

The President was accompanied by his close-in security and Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.

On lifting martial law

The President said he was still waiting for the recommendations of the police and the military on whether to lift martial law.

“I don’t have an independent study of how things are on the ground. It’s not my job. I cannot do it physically even,” Mr. Duterte said.

“I just have to rely on the word of the Armed Forces and the police because they are the ones keeping this Republic healthy and alive,” he said.

“When they say it’s no longer dangerous and everything is OK, then that is the time that I will lift martial law. Otherwise…” he added.

Before his attempt to visit Marawi, the President visited the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in Barangay Maria Christina, Iligan City.

Mr. Duterte assured the soldiers of the government’s unwavering support.