MANAILA – President Rodrigo Duterte claimed over the weekend he was not aware prior to the fact that the U.S. government was providing assistance to government troops in its battle against Islamist militants in the Islamic City of Marawi.
The military had disclosed on Saturday that U.S. forces were providing technical assistance but did not have “boots on the ground”, confirming a statement from the U.S. embassy in Manila that said the support had been requested by the government.
For his part, Duterte also said he “never approached America” for help.
“I was not aware of that until they arrived,” Duterte told a press briefing when asked about the U.S. support to fight the pro-Islamic State militant Maute Group in Marawi City.
It is unclear whether the pro-American military went over Duterte’s head in seeking U.S. help, but after he proclaimed Martial Law, President Duterte left matters of tactical decision-making to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as the Martial Law administrator.
“They are not fighting. They are just providing technical support,” military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera told a news conference in Marawi City.
The US embassy confirmed it had offered support, at the request of the Philippine government, but gave no details. “There is no direct US participation in combat, which is prohibited by Philippine law, although our forces involved in training the Philippine military are authorized to defend themselves,” a US official told Reuters.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said support included aerial surveillance and targeting, electronic eavesdropping, communications assistance and training. A US P3 Orion surveillance plane was seen flying over the town on Friday, media said.
The cooperation between the longtime allies is significant because President Rodrigo Duterte, who came to power a year ago, has taken a hostile stance toward Washington and has vowed to eject US military trainers and advisers from his country.
About 40 foreigners have reportedly fought alongside the Maute Group, most of them from Indonesia and Malaysia, though some apparently came from the Middle East.
The military suffered its biggest one-day loss on Friday last week since 10 troops were killed in a friendly-fire incident on June 1.
At least 13 marines conducting clearing operations died after an “intense” house-to-house firefight during which they encountered improvised explosive devices and were attacked by rocket-propelled grenades.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto C. Abella said of the US assistance: “The United States is assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its operations in Marawi but this is limited to technical assistance.
“We have standing protocols which are already in place under the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board with the US under the purview of the PHL-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951. It does not involve any boots on the ground, nor is there any direct participation in combat operations, a matter prohibited by law,” Mr. Abella also said, adding that “The Philippines is open to assistance from other countries if they offer it.”
