War and peace in PDut’s 2nd SONA P
resident Rodrigo Duterte warned Monday that the communist rebels will be the government's next target as soon as the Armed Forces have finished dealing with the extremists in Marawi City.
"No more talks," the President maintained during an interview with reporters after his State of the Nation Address. "If they want war, just wait until Marawi. We can better deal with you."
Duterte's warning came after the government called off the peace negotiations with communist party due to the series of attacks launched by its armed wing New People's Army (NPA) against the security troops.
In his Sona, the Chief Executive lamented the communists' insurgency but vowed that he would exert efforts in pursuing peace and order in the country.
Duterte earlier said the government is ready to engage the NPA bandits in a fight for "another 50 years" since they are not since in pursuing the peace dialogue.
In what was also a first for a sitting President, Duterte also faced protesters outside the Batasan Complex in Quezon City soon after ending his SONA speech.
Duterte went on stage and vented his ire on the protesters for last week's NPA ambush against the
members of Presidential Security Group in North Cotabato that injured four of his security aides.
“Continue the peace talks, is that what you want? But you attempted to ambush me. If I were there, you would have killed me,” Duterte told the protesters from militant groups.
“Now, what do you want, respect me or not? If you will not respect me, that’s what I’ll give you,” he added.
In a press conference immediately after meeting with the protesters, Duterte declared he is mulling enlisting 40,000 additional troops to avert “future threats” in the country’s national security.
The President said there is a need to “reconfigure” the police and armed forces, citing the number of government casualties in the fight against the insurgency.
“I’ll be frank, there’s a need for the police and armed forces to reconfigure,” Duterte said.
“I would need about 35,000 to 40,000 to meet the future threats coming our way from within and outside the country. And I will start also to rearm,” he added.
Duterte also said that he would improve the defense capabilities of the security forces amid attacks by the NPA.
The President pledged that the security forces would be “very strong” in two years time as he sought to buy equipment that will boost their armed capabilities.
“We must have a strong republic to withstand all threats and challenges. Today’s reality demands, necessitates an armed forces that is strong,” Duterte said.
“I will build a credible armed forces that can fight at all fronts anywhere, everywhere. I really do not know how many will sprout out but we have the Isis and the NPA… You can expect after two years a very strong armed forces. I will buy an equipment,” he added.
Meanwhile, Duterte pledged anew to push for the immediate passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) during his second State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Duterte said that his administration remains committed to pursuing “just and lasting peace.”
“We’re pursuing inclusive peace processing,” he said in a speech delivered at Batasan Complex in Quezon City.
“[The proposed BBL will be passed] to ensure a Bangsamoro government that truly reflects the aspirations of our Muslim brothers and sisters,” he added.
On July 17, Duterte received the revised BBL by 21-member Bangsamoro Transition Committee.
The final version of the BBL seeks to replace the earlier version stalled in the 16th Congress.
The draft Moro law under the Duterte administration aims to establish a Bangsamoro entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front vice chair for political affairs, Ghazali Jaafar, who served as chair of BTC, earlier said that the proposed Moro law is now “more inclusive.”
“It reflects the diversity of interests of the Bangsamoro people, non-Bangsamoro, indigenous people. These interests are united under one goal – establish a just, dignified and lasting peace,” Jaafar said during the turn-over rites of proposed BBL.
“We need the passage of this proposed BBL into law so we can start rebuilding our lives. We believe that in your time and under your leadership, we, Moro brothers and sisters, would see [its successful passage],” he added. SunStar Philippines