That changed in the last few days as US officials acknowledged that they were helping the Philippine military with undisclosed technical assistance.
Speaking in Tokyo last week, Cayetano told the Nikkei Asian Review that worldwide cooperation was needed to end the siege in Marawi.
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.
Mystery about how much foreign help the Maute Group gets, from where and even for what reasons have frustrated the battle that has killed 13 marines this month and affected more than 200,000 people, many who have fled Marawi. Since 2001, the U.S. has maintained a rotating force of 50 to 100 troops in the southern Philippines to combat Abu Sayyaf.
Earlier that day, the military said it is hoping to liberate Marawi by Independence Day. "In a few more days, we will be able to clear Marawi".
The military said it was making headway in the town but was proceeding carefully so as not to destroy mosques where some of the militants had taken up positions. "We are doing it deliberately and carefully", he said.
Her sons, Omar Romato Maute and Abdullah Romato Maute, are suspected of conspiring with Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the Islamist group Abu Sayyaf, in masterminding the attack on Marawi City.
"While we cannot positively say that the Maute Group is specifically funded by foreign networks and sponsors, it can be said that they are certainly part of transnational terrorist networks", said Fabrizio Bozzato, a Taiwan Strategy Research Association fellow specializing in Asian political issues. US Special Action Forces (US SF) have been sent into the fray upon the request of the Duterte government, their involvement allegedly limited to giving "technical support" to combat operations.
"But the President knew at the start of his term that, as the allies become more successful in Syria and Iraq, they (Islamic State) will be looking for a land base, and Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will be a potential target to them", Mr. Cayetano said.
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The two countries are bound by a 1951 mutual defence treaty, though Duterte has tried to steer the Philippines away from U.S. influence since he became president previous year.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said support included aerial surveillance and targeting, electronic eavesdropping, communications assistance and training. The military and police have been given the green light to carry out counterinsurgency operations with renewed gusto under the cover of martial law and sans legal niceties such as the bill of rights getting in their way. Most recently, M4 carbines, Glock pistols, M134D machine guns, grenade launchers and rubber maritime raiding craft were delivered, according to a June 5 news release from the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
But he had what the White House described as a "very friendly" phone call with US President Donald Trump in April, and has since said his differences with the US were with former president Barack Obama's administration. But apparently no formal request was submitted to Washington.
Last Sunday, Duterte said he never asked the US for help in Marawi, and it was a surprise to him when US Special Forces arrived to assist the Philippine military.
Duterte cut short a state visit to Russian Federation and declared 60 days of martial law over the island of Mindanao when fighting broke out in May.
Several petitions have been filed with the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the imposition of martial law in Mindanao.
In Manila, Duterte skipped the flag-raising rites at Rizal Park, citing fatigue.
Officials said the president was exhausted and had gotten little sleep since visiting the families of fallen soldiers during the weekend.
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