By Edith Regaladoa and Alexis Romero
DAVAO CITY , Philippines – Three months after Maute terrorists laid siege to Marawi, the crisis in the city has reached a “stalemate,” according to President Duterte.
“It is a stalemate now because of my asking the military to slow down,” Duterte, likening the situation to a chess game, said at the birthday party of Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles late Saturday.
Duterte said the stalemate was brought about by his advice to the Armed Forces to go slow in the assault on the terrorists who are holding several civilian hostages.
The President said that no matter how easy it would seem to bomb the mosques in the city to finally end the crisis, still his sensitivities to the Muslim community prevailed upon him never to do it.
“I told the top (military) echelons, take it easy, we cannot destroy the mosque, because that will forever… spawn hatred from the Muslim community,” he said.
Duterte said he finally gave the military the discretion on how to end the fighting in Marawi City.
Duterte said his decision allowing the military to attack is a heavy responsibility he has to bear.
Read the full story at PhilStar
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