Saying his job as leader of the country is to seek peace and
not war, President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his appeal to the Moro rebels
to end the four decades-long war in Mindanao .
”I would like to appeal to all that we should stop this war
and bleeding. I will bring the Arab investors here so that you will have no so
much dynamics. Just guarantee me that you want to end this fight and let’s
talk,” Duterte said in his speech before the government soldiers at the Camp
General Teodolfo Bautista in Bgy. Busbus, Jolo, Sulu.
President Duterte particularly addressed his appeal to the
Sulu-based Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels headed by Nur Misuari.
”So my job when I became president was really to seek peace,
not war and I will start immediately the peace and also the people here, and
also to Nur, we knew each other long time ago. I’ve been telling Nur, can we
just talk and then, let’s find the way how,” the President said.
If he would be able to bring peace in Mindanao ,
Duterte promised that development would follow. particularly in Sulu which has
over 800,000 population based on 2015 National Statistics Office (NSO) data.
”If you agree for peace, I will lengthen the runway and make
it operational day and night. I’m tell you that,” Duterte said.
”I reiterated my commitment for the Moro people and the
Tausug that I want to end this war so that our soldiers can go home because
they have also their own family to take care,” he added.
Aside from the MNLF, President Duterte said he also pushing
peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
”Secretary (Jesus) Dureza and the guys in the government
panel will talk to Nur and kung maari isaabay ko na lang dahil magastos yang isa’t
isa. Half of the discussion with Nur, and half of the discussion with the
MILF,” the President said.
While he is pursuing peace with the Moro rebels, the
President said the government troops would continue to fight the criminals like
the kidnap for ransom Abu Sayyaf Group in Mindanao .
”Those who want to destroy us, then you have to destroy, not
only fight, we destroy because if not, nothing will happen,” President Duterte
advised the soldiers.
With regards to the Communist Party of the Philippines
”We are still pursing the talks with or without Sison. Here
we are ready but I don’t know it if would come within this month,” Duterte
said.
Duterte explained to the government troops that he declared
unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels in his first state of the nation
address (SONA) last July 25 to show good faith that government wanted to talk
peace with them.
The President added that he decided to lift the ceasefire
five days later after the NPA failed to meet the deadline to reciprocate. The NPA
rebels even ambushed the government militiamen, killing one militiamen and
injuring four others while President Duterte was waiting for CPP’s response.
”I decided to lift and then they came out with statement in
the evening that they are supposed to cease fire. I said don’t fool me. But we
are still pursuing the talks,” the President said.
For the government troops, President Duterte reiterated his
promised to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
”You have to be very vigilant. Everything you need to win, I
will give it to you. Under my watch there will be no problem. You will have
state of the art hospitals. I will give for your use as ambulance my
(presidential) jet. I will just take commercial flights. Let’s just work for
this republic,” the President told the government troops.
The Camp General Bautista was the 11th military camp that
Duterte visited since his inauguration as the country's 16th President last
June 30.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=913299
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