Nilinaw ng Palasyo ng Malacañang kahapon ang mga napaulat na pahayag ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na huwag bombahin ang mga mosque sa Marawi City.

“This is to clarify news reports that the President’s advice not to bomb mosques in Marawi City where Maute rebels are holed up contradic­ted his earlier statement that he gave the military the option to attack the mosques to capture or kill the terrorist rebels,” ayon sa inilabas na pahayag ni Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella kahapon.

“The Commander-in-Chief and our Armed Forces are taking pains to preserve places of worship as is the case with the Grand Mosque of the City of Marawi,”dagdag nito.

Bagama’t may exemption na isinasaalang-alang alinsunod sa international convention na puwedeng gamitan ng puwersa kung kinakailangan ay pinili umano ng gobyerno na ipreserba ang mga “lugar-sambahan kung saan may bakbakan.”

“AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año, in compliance with the Commander-in-Chief’s guidance, has made the safety of civilians and the rescue of hostages as primordial concerns of our forces,” ayon pa kay Abella.