Rody to Indian business groups: Avoid Mindanao

NEW DELHI – President Duterte yesterday urged Indian investors to come to the Philippines but advised them to avoid Mindanao, which remains under martial law because of threats from armed groups.

Duterte said the military rule, which will remain in effect until the end of 2018, was meant to defeat terrorist groups like the Islamic State and Abu Sayyaf “who are fond of decapitating foreigners.”

“Avoid Mindanao. There’s still martial law there. But it’s a martial law that’s not really a martial law. It is a martial law for enemies of the state,” Duterte said during a meeting with Indian business groups here. “There’s something there in the South that is quite virulent.”

Duterte, the first president from Mindanao, maintained that martial law is hardly felt by ordinary citizens.

“If you are just an ordinary guy there with a business, you can hardly even notice there are no soldiers around. Only policemen,” the President said.

Islamic State-linked terrorists laid siege to Marawi City for five months starting May 23, prompting Duterte to declare martial law in the entire Mindanao.

More than 160 government troopers were killed during the siege, the longest urban war in the country since World War II.

Duterte declared Marawi freed from terrorists last October but did not lift military rule because of alleged threats posed by IS sympathizers and communists.

Congress, dominated by Duterte’s allies, has voted to extend military rule in Mindanao until the end of 2018.

Duterte to investors: Don’t give in to corruption Duterte also assured Indian investors that he would protect them from corrupt officials and urged them to report any attempt to extort money from them.

He also warned them against paying bribes to advance their business interests.

“I said even a whiff of corruption, I will terminate you and (if you give bribes and) if I come to know about it, you’ll find your applications in the wastebasket,” the President said. “But if you will do it right, I will assure you of protection.”

Duterte said he has fired several officials who were tagged in irregularities to give Filipinos a respite from corruption.

“The problem is, corruption has always been a way of life. If I cannot stop it, I just would like to maybe reduce it to the barest minimum,” he said.

“But I can assure you that will be a hassle-free. It would be your fault actually if you do not speak out and stand for what you believe in is wrong,” he added.