MALACAñANG on Sunday called on Mindanao’s residents to cooperate with the government after the terrorist Maute Group attacked the area.
“Our President has called for the cooperation of the residents so we can swiftly resolve the terrorist problem there,” presidential spokesman Martin Andanar told dzRB radio.
He said many government agencies were working together to help displaced civilians.
“The entire government is helping all the victims of the current conflict happening in that area. The DSWD, the Department of Health”•all of them,” Andanar said.
He said the leaders of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were also helping the affected residents.
Authorities have placed Davao, Zamboanga and Cotabato under terror alert level 3 to protect vulnerable areas against retaliation from the terrorists.
“I think the developments that happened last week will have to be settled, will have to be discussed because it’s not that simple, the one that happened last week,” Andanar said.
“It requires a face-to-face conversation with regard to the policy of the President after that incident, after the ambush of the PSG and RTVM…the Army, in Lanao del Sur.
“Things can change depending on the situation. Once I get information from the President we will let media know firsthand.”
Armed Forces spokesman Restituto Padilla said the military supported all efforts to end the fighting between government forces and the Islamic State-inspired militants.
“It is difficult to fight fellow Filipinos. As much as possible we are avoiding armed conflicts with our fellow countrymen. We share the same sentiment of our good President,” Padilla said.
Duterte said earlier he would “befriend” the Maute group to avoid more trouble, a statement that presidential communications assistant secretary Kristian Ablan described as “trying to exhaust all means in order to attain peace and order.”
Duterte also declared that he did not want “to wage a war against Filipinos,” which was why he is calling on the militants to not to force his hand.