Duterte 'hurt' after cousins joined Maute group

President Rodrigo Duterte said he is saddened by the rising death toll in the ongoing siege of Marawi city, which include some cousins who joined the ISIS-inspired group.

"At night I grappled especially when I read the briefer and how many soldiers I have lost for the day. More than anybody else, ako ang naghihinanakit. I really wallow in sorrow because ako ang nag-utos na pumunta dyan at makipag away kayo. That is the moral burden that I carry all day and all night," he said.

Earlier, he admitted that he was also hurt upon hearing news that some cousins joined the ISIS-inspired Maute group and that one of them has died, according to a report by GMA News' Jam Sisante on "24 Oras" on Wednesday.

"May mga pinsan ako na nandoon sa Maute, aba 'kala ninyo... Because they were there, a cousin of mine died. Nagpunta sila doon, isang truck. Nagtaka nga 'yung mga PSG (Presidential Security Group) kung sino 'yan. Sabi ko, mga pinsan ko 'yan, hayaan mo," said Duterte in his speech during the Eid'l Fitr celebration.

Moreover, the President said he visited camps of government troops during the time that he was not seen in public.

"I cannot just sit on my a— diyan sa opisina ko na hirap ‘yung tao doon. And for the many weeks that you did not see me, alam ninyo na pumupunta ako ng brigade, ng kampo, lahat pinuntahan ko, almost all divisions. I just wanted to make sure the morale of the troops are high," Duterte said.

At the same event, the President also reiterated his full support for all the soldiers.

Duterte has ordered the Health department to expedite the upgrade of hospitals for the troops. He added that he wants the project to be finished within 60 days. — BAP, GMA News