Duterte plans to tap MNLF, MILF, NPA against Maute

From Malaya Business Insight (May 29): Duterte plans to tap MNLF, MILF, NPA against Maute

PRESIDENT Duterte on Saturday said he is planning to hire members of the Moro National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the New People’s Army in the fight against the Maute Group in Marawi City 

The President issued the statement during a talk with the military in Busbus in Jolo.

He said he would provide the fighters of the MNLF, MILF and NPA the same pay and benefits that the government is providing the Armed Forces of the Philippines if they will join the “Republic.”

The Communist Party of the Philippines, just last Thursday, ordered its armed wing, the NPA, to carry out more attacks in Mindanao because of Duterte’s move to place the area under martial law. The order led to the cancellation last Saturday of the fifth round of peace negotiations between government and the communist group.

Duterte said he would tap the MNLF, MILF and NPA forces if the Marawi conflict drags on.

“I am announcing to all na lahat ng sundalo ng MI (MILF), MN (MNLF), kung matagal pa ito at gusto ninyong sumali, makipagsapalaran sa Republika, I am offering them, kunin ko kayong sundalo, same pay, same privileges, and I will build houses for you in some areas.

At lahat ng NPA nakikinig ngayon, kung iwanan ninyo iyan, (I am announcing to all the soldiers of MI, MN, if this drags on, and you want to join, take your chance with the Republic, I am offering them, I will hire you as soldiers - same pay, same privileges, and I will build houses for you in some areas. And all the NPA, listen now, if you leave the fight against government),” he said.

Duterte said he is willing to create a special division composed of the fighters of the MILF, MNLF and NPA.

He said the idea stemmed from the offer of MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari, through a letter, who volunteered the men under him to support the government’s campaign against the Maute group in Marawi and the other parts of the Lanao region.

The President said he does not want to declare martial law but the situation had forced him to do it. He said he is prepared to ignore the opinion of the Supreme Court and Congress about the imposition of martial law because they are not aware of the actual situation in Mindanao.

Duterte also said he will come up with a general order amending the martial law proclamation to include illegal drugs as among the reasons for imposing military rule.

“I have no other recourse but to declare martial law. When will it end? I do not know. Hanggang hindi sinabi ng pulis pati Armed Forces na safe na ang Philippines, this martial law will continue. Hindi ako makinig sa iba. Mga Supreme Court, iyung mga congressman, wala man sila dito. (I have no other recourse but to declare martial law. When will it end? I do not know. Until the police and the Armed Forces say the Philippines is safe, this martial law will continue. I will not listen to others. The Supreme Court, the congressmen, they are not here. I will not listen to them),” he said.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/duterte-plans-tap-mnlf-milf-npa-against-maute