“The nation will never neglect heroes of the Republic,” President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday night as he assured troops fighting terrorists in Marawi that the government would not abandon them. In video message released by the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO), Duterte lauded the troops who had been fighting against the Maute terrorists in Marawi. As of posting time, 84 government troops have been killed in the fighting, which has been going on for more than a month now. ADVERTISEMENT“By fulfilling this, we must not let our guards down against the emergence of terrorism and banditry in the area,” he said. He reminded the troops of their duty in achieving a just and lasting peace for the country.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 03, 2017 16:52 UTC