Duterte pleads for peace
Muslims urged to help gov’t find solutions to Mindanao conflict
President Duterte has appealed to all Muslims to help his administration achieve peace in Mindanao in a bid to bring economic prosperity in the region.
“I am pleading to my Moro brothers and sisters, please help us,” the Chief Executive said as he promised to restore the barter trade, the historical livelihood in Mindanao.
The President particularly pleaded to all Moro political leaders, men of influence, and scholars to continue participating in the ongoing peace efforts to find solutions to the region’s problems.
“If you want I will restore the barter trade. I will open Zamboanga again. Walang problema iyan. Bubuksan ko ‘yan uli (That’s not a problem.
I will reopen it),” said Duterte in his remarks before troops of the Army’s 103rd Brigade in Butig, Lanao del Sur last Wednesday. “I will open the barter trade there and whatever that could make our life more comfortable,” he added.
Duterte was in Butig to check on the progress of the military operations against the Islamic State-linked Maute Group, which took over the old municipal hall and parts of the town.
Yesterday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla announced that Butig town is now 100 percent cleared of Maute Group bandits.
While pleading for Muslims’ help, Duterte vowed to introduce reforms in Mindanao to improve the living condi- tions of its people once a peace deal is achieved.
The Chief Executive likewise vowed to make the region a priority in the distribution of assistance once foreign development aid comes in.
Duterte also said he is open for the adoption of Sharia Law in some areas where it will be suitable as long as it is fair for both the Muslims and Christians.
Reiterating his thrust to adopt a federal form of government, he said his government will begin the structure for federalism next year, setting aside provisions of the Constitutions that are not acceptable.
“We will begin the structure next year but we will set aside... tabi mo muna, tabi natin ‘yung mga Constitutional provisions na hindi talaga acceptable. Ilagay muna natin what is good and at the same time, matanggap muna for the moment,” said Duterte.
Butig 100% cleared Meanwhile, Padilla, said that based on information provided by the 103rd Brigade under Col. Roselier Murillo, clearing operations in the area has ended and that the area is now 100 percent under the control of the local government unit (LGU).
“The next step is to repair the whole municipality so that residents can return to their homes,” Padilla said during a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
He said that based on the last tally of casualties, a total of 61 Maute Group fighters were allegedly killed while 12 others were wounded since fighting broke out late last week.
He added that more than 35 soldiers were wounded in the clashes.
Padilla also denied information coming from a local youth group in Lanao del Sur that the roadside bombing that took place in Marawi City last Tuesday, did not really take place or did not happen.
Residents of Sitio Imi Punud in Barangay Matampay, Marawi City, where the ambush happened, denied any violent incident in their community, especially along the highway on that fateful Tuesday.
“We reside right at the alleged ambush site, but we did not hear any explosion or bursts of gunfire,” Edris Ibrahim, a third year college student and youth network worker, told the Manila Bulletin over the phone Wednesday.
However, authorities said seven Presidential Security Group (PSG) members, including an officer, and two regular troops were wounded after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded during the roadside bombing.
They were part of a convoy of PSG personnel, Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM), and local troops on their way to Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, to coordinate the President’s trip.
“I would like to take this opportunity to deny reports coming from the youth group from Lanao del Sur stating that there is no truth to the roadside bombing that wounded soldiers from the 103rd Brigade and members of the PSG,” Padilla said.
“There is no truth to the viral message or to that viral news. There was an IED explosion that took place and hit the convoy who were on their way to the 103rd Brigade and that really happened or took place,” Padilla said. (With reports from Fracis T. Wakefield and Ali G. Macabalang)