Philippine President thanks US for helping fight IS
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed thanks to the US government for helping Manila fight pro-Islamic State (IS) group militants in the southern city of Marawi.
Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed thanksto the US government for helping Manila fight pro-Islamic State (IS) groupmilitants in the southern city of Marawi.
Speakingto local residents in the central town of Balangiga on September 29, Dutertesaid the US deployed a P-3 Orion spy plane and provided other intelligence inputsto the Philippine forces trying to retake the city in fighting which has leftmore than 900 people dead since May.
Hesaid without the US’s help, the Philippines would be having a hard time.
Relationsbetween the two allies – the US and the Philippines have worsened since Dutertetook office in June 2016. He previously announced separation from the US andcalled for removing presence of foreign armies within two years in the country,adding that military exercises are more beneficial to the US than thePhilippines.-VNA
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Philippine army in Marawi (Source: VNA) 
