The US embassy in Manila said Saturday that special forces were assisting the Philippine military with ongoing operations in the southern city of Marawi, which insurgents overran on May 23.
When asked about US support to fight the pro-Islamic State militants in Marawi City on the island of Mindanao, Duterte said he was "not aware of that until they arrived".
Duterte told reporters Sunday that he made a decision to declare martial law in the southern third of the country to better stop the gunmen from escaping from Marawi or launching new attacks elsewhere. He has twice set deadlines for troops to retake Marawi, the country's largest predominantly Muslim city, but each deadline has passed with the battle still raging.
On Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte led the arrival honors at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for eight of the 13 killed soldiers.
AFP, in a statement, said that after the high noon tribute, they will fly the Philippine flag in half-mast in all military camps. "US Special Forces have been providing support and assistance in the southern Philippines for many years, at the request of several different Filipino administrations". Fighters from Indonesia, Malaysia, Chechnya, Yemenand Saudi Arabia were among those killed in the battle for Marawi. Subsequently news reports on the ongoing crisis in Marawi have repeated the speculation that ISIS has chose to shift its base of operations from the Middle East to South East Asia due to their alleged setbacks in Syria and Iraq.
The clashes started as government troops were attempting to arrest top Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.
The nation's 119 year of independence was marked solemnly on Monday as security forces continue to try and contain Islamic State-affiliated Maute group militants. The United States has about a 90% favorability rating, while China has more like a 50% favorability rating.
Omar Ali, the incumbent mayor of Marawi, to whom the Maute Group was allied, lost a closely contested election in June 2016 and filed an appeal.
Military officials believe Hapilon is still in the town.
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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson conveyed independence greetings on behalf of President Donald Trump and the American people, saying the U.S. stands as an ally with the Philippines as it confronts the attacks in Marawi and other terrorist threats.
However Abella stressed on Sunday US involvement in the fight for Marawi was very limited. Moreover, he designated Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana as the administrator of Martial Law declared on Mindanao.
Philippine elections are bloody affairs, particularly in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), where Marawi is located.
Mr Duterte has raged against the United States for daring to criticise his anti-drug campaign and, when President Barack Obama was in office, called for a "separation" from Washington.
Asked how USA assistance would impact on his independent foreign policy stand, Duterte said the country is at war "and we are not that powerful".
Speaking to reporters Sunday, Duterte said no request of assistance had been made to USA forces.
Duterte has publicly called for the expulsion of U.S. forces from the Philippines in the past, but the nation's military has a close relationship with the Pentagon.
"Our military relationship with the Philippines remains robust and multifaceted", said Emma Nagy, a spokeswoman for the embassy in Manila.
Philippines President Rodrigo missed the rites for his first Independence Day as leader because he was reportedly too exhausted from staying up late because of the Marawi siege.
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