MANILA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday personally apologized to the residents of Marawi who were displaced during the close to-one month military operations in the southern city and for the declaration of martial law in the whole Mindanao, following attacks by Islamic militants.
The president visited displaced families from Marawi who are currently staying at an evacuation center in Iligan City and led the distribution of financial and relief aid.
In the speech of the event, he said he had no choice but to impose martial law as the Islamic militants were already destroying the city and a lot of people are already being affected by the attacks.
Duterte, who claimed that his grandmother was a Maranao, a local tribe in Mindanao island, said he was hurt and angry that some Maranaos allowed the foreign terrorist ideology to enter the country.
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