Duterte to visit Cotabato after Datu Paglas incident

From the Philippine News Agency (May 11, 2021): Duterte to visit Cotabato after Datu Paglas incident (By Azer Parrocha)

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (File photo)

President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to go to Cotabato City on Tuesday in the aftermath of the botched attack of Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao on Saturday.

In an interview over PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte will deliver a message to the BIFF that he would not tolerate violence.

“Mamaya po ay tutungo po ng Cotabato ang ating Presidente. Makipagusap po siya dun at talagang ang mensahe niya ay ipararating niyang mensahe sa BIFF na siya ang kanyang katungkulan ay ipagpatupad ang batas at hindi pupuwede na patuloy na gumagamit ng dahas laban sa kapwa Pilipino (The President will go to Cotabato later. He will have dialogue there to send a message to the BIIF that under his administration, the law will be implemented, and using violence against fellow Filipinos will not be tolerated),” he said.

Roque, in a press conference, said Duterte will also hold a meeting with members of his Cabinet, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Ang objective po ng Presidente para iparating ang mensahe na hindi po niya puwedeng pabayaan ang kaniyang katungkulan na ipatulad ang batas (The President's objective is to convey the message that he cannot neglect his duty to implement the law),” he said.

Reports showed that about 200 heavily-armed members of the BIFF seized the public market of Datu Paglas town at 4 a.m. on Saturday.

Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said the BIFF under the Kagui Karialan faction occupied the town’s public market and established a defensive position there.

He said no casualty was reported on the government side, and could not say if the BIFF extremists had casualties.

At least 5,000 individuals have been displaced by the conflict and were staying at nearby public schools as military clearing operations continued at the town center.

Government forces were able to regain control of the Datu Paglas town market center after the military launched air and ground assaults on the rebels’ position until the BIFF withdrew toward the mountainous area of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.

In a statement on Sunday, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana urged residents and local government officials in Maguindanao to be more vigilant.

He said the AFP will not stop until the threat posed by the BIFF terrorists is neutralized.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1139856