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| Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plays soldier (File Photo) |
MANILA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday visited war-torn Marawi City to boost the morale of troops involved in the ongoing efforts to liberate the city from the clutches of the Islamic State-inspired extremists.
Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the military's Western Mindanao Command and Joint Task Force Marawi, said the president arrived at conflict area at around 3:00 p.m. and left an hour and a half later.
Clad in an camouflage upper garment, a military cap and gray civilian pants, Duterte was accompanied by several security officials, including Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Eduardo Ano.
Petinglay said Duterte went to the main battle area "to inform the soldiers that he is with us in this fight."
The president's visit to the city, his fourth since clashes between state troops and the extremists erupted in May, came as Presidential Palace Malacanang on Monday said the rebellion in the city was already "in its last miles."
Read the full story at Xinhua