(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte “earnestly asked” members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) not to provide “sanctuary” to the ISIS-connected Maute group, and other terrorist groups.
In a speech during his visit to the wounded soldiers in Camp Siongco Station Hospital in Maguindanao, the President said that he wants to pursue peace with the Moro rebels as well as with the communist insurgents, but drew the line if rebels would help or provide shelter to terrorists.
“I am earnestly asking — nakikiusap po ako sa MN[LF] pati sa MI[LF] na do not provide sanctuary itong mga terorista sa lugar ninyo,” Duterte said.
He said he would be forced to take action and enter MNLF and MILF territories if they would coddle terrorists like the Maute group.
“Kasi kapag ganoon, then we will be forced to go after them within your territory. And that would mean trouble for all of us. Ayoko mangyari iyan,” he added.
The 72-year old Philippine president said that at this point of his life, he does not war.
But if ISIS-connected terrorists would be provided sanctuary in MNLF or MILF camps or territories, then this would change the situation. He said the government would then be forced to cancel peace talks.
“Forget about, forget about peace. Away na lang. Then I’ll just pray to God that kokonti lang ang madisgrasya because gyera ‘to but I will use the might of the Republic of the Philippines to impose our stand,” the President said.
The President also made mention of the Mamamasapano tragedy where 44 officers of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) when they entered MILF territory.
He said he understood what had happened and did not utter any word about the MILF about the incident, since the operation was not coordinated with the MILF then as had been previously agreed upon. The SAF had allegedly killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan then, but was surrounded and massacred by the Moro rebels afterwards.
“Nagkamali iyong sa gobyerno noon at pinayagan ang ganoon. So ang ginawa ninyo halos pinatay ninyo… We never said anything about you, ni hindi kayo sinisi namin,” Duterte said, referring to the MILF.
“But this time, I am pleading. Do not allow the Maute and the other terrorist groups to enter and seek refuge in your camps. Otherwise, mapipilitan akong sabihin sa Armed Forces pati sa police, ‘Pasukin ninyo.’ Then it could result into you know — magkalabuan tayo dito. You know, I hate war,” the President added.
The Maute group had earlier claimed connections with the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Islamic State. It had also claimed to be responsible for the deadly Davao blasts that killed 14 people on September 2 last year.