PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he was taking one more chance to extend the hand of peace to the terrorists and to urge them to abandon their plan to create an Islamic State in Mindanao.
In a speech before troops in Iligan City, Duterte said he had sent his Muslim classmate at the San Beda College of Law, presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers Abdullah Mamao, to talk to the neutral forces and see if the ongoing strife in Mindano could still be fixed “by talking.”
“Nandito ‘yung brod ko, si Attorney Mamao. He’s a Maranao. You must know that my lola is a Maranao. Lolo ko Chinese. Tatay ko Bisaya,” Duterte said.
“May inutusan ako sa kanya to do something for me. But my message mainly to the terrorists on the other side is kung madala pa natin ito nang usapan.”
Duterte made his statement even as Malacañang on Friday welcomed the efforts from the United States and Russia to help the country fight terrorism amid the continuing military operations against the Islamist terror groups in Marawi City.
“We are grateful to all those who condoled with us and offered their support,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
“Peace and stability is our common concern and it is vital that governments are firm in their resolve to cooperate against this scourge that imperils the fabric of our humanity.”
Duterte said he also asked Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto to explore possible avenues for talks with the renegade forces in Marawi.
But he warned that should local terrorist groups reject his hand of peace, he would not think twice about ordering the government forces to crush them.
“‘Yung talagang out na out na terrorista na and if you cannot be convinced to stop fighting, so be it. Away na lang tayo,” Duterte said.
“But if they can really put down their arms… Pero ang utos ko naman sa tropa is lahat ng tao na hindi authorized ng gobyerno na magdala ng baril at lumaban, patayin ninyo. Ubusin na lang ninyo.”
In previous speeches, Duterte appealed to the Muslims in Mindanao to reject extremism.
He told them he was a “man in a hurry” and determined to speed up the creation of a Bangsamoro region.
Duterte said he would take full responsibility for the actions of his soldiers implementing martial law in Mindanao.
“Do not worry. I will join you. I will… If you go down, I go down. But for this martial law and the consequences and [its] ramifications, I and I alone would be responsible,” Duterte said.
“I am here to say to you, fight and I will pray for you and I will answer for everything.”
Duterte said soldiers could conduct warrantless arrests without any worries.
In his report to Congress, Duterte cited an alleged attempt by local terror groups to create an Islamic State province in Mindanao as the reason behind his declaration of martial law.
Citing the Bible, Duterte told the troops the government would attain victory at the end of the protracted war against the extremists.
“There is a time for everything. This time, this is a time for victory. We will not lose. How can we lose? We have everything.”