(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, July 27, invited the Abu Sayyaf to talk peace instead, saying that war only resulted in deaths.
“Ang problema, ang mahirapan ang mga bata, matanda, pati mga babae. Mag-iwan lang tayo ng maraming orphans. Maglaki ng walang tatay, hirap ang nanay,… Iyong Abu Sayyaf, mag-usap na lang tayo,” Duterte said.
He asked Moros to give the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which he signed a day before, a chance.
The President noted that having a chief executive with Moro blood was rare.
“‘Di bigyan ninyo ako konting panahon,” Duterte said.
On Thursday, the President signed the BOL after its ratification was delayed in the House of Representatives due to a leadership issue.
The Senate ratified the measure on Monday, July 23, prior to President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address.
On Thursday, the President expressed hope the Abu Sayyaf, which is known for its kidnap-for-ransom activities, would stop its illegal activities.
He said Malays were not inherently cruel.
“We are not as vicious as the Arabs. Ganun talaga… I’m not insulting the Arabs. Ganun talaga ang ano nila, how they fight,” he said.
Duterte has expressed hope the BOL, which creates a Bangsamoro entity, would provide a solution to the pressing problems in Mindanao.