MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) secretly orchestrated a botched raid targeting an alleged Islamic terrorist that left 44 Filipino policemen dead two years ago. “It was an American adventure with the cooperation of some, and apparently with your blessing,” Duterte said, referring to Aquino. Duterte has during his seven months in office sought to loosen the Philippines’ longtime alliance with the United States while forging closer ties with China and Russia. The United States had said Zulkifli was a top militant in the Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiyah. A Philippine Senate report into the raid concluded the United States played a “substantial” role by providing training, equipment and intelligence to the Filipino forces.

Source: Manila Times January 24, 2017 12:19 UTC