Mindanao will be priority, says Duterte

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has promised genuine and lasting peace in Mindanao, saying that “one foot of the Moro people will be in Malacañang” if he becomes president.

“You are all welcome,” Duterte said in a rally at Nova Park in Novaliches, Quezon City, on Saturday night.

In his speech, the PDP-Laban standardbearer expressed his sentiments about the government neglect of Mindanao.

He deplored the lack of sincerity on the part of the government to find a solution to decades of armed conflict on the rich island.

Duterte assured the audience he would put the Mindanao conflict on top of his agenda.

“Just give me time to correct the historical injustices committed against the Moro people,” Duterte said.

Hesaid it was his desire to unite all Christians, Muslims and lumad under his administration.

The tough-talking mayor was in Novaliches to resume the rigorous Luzon swing of his campaign, with the elections just two weeks away.

Duterte was warmly received by local residents who lined both sides of the streets chanting his name as his motorcade rolled into town.

Meanwhile, Duterte blamed Manilabased journalists for the negative publicity he has been receiving.

“Hindi ako gano’n kabastos, pero sinasadya ko ’yon (I am not that foul-mouthed, but I am doing it on purpose) because, you know, mabayaran sila (they can be paid off), especially the writers, and there are a lot of them. They would really slant, and every statement I make they would slant,” Duterte said in a speech before graduating students of Lyceum of the Philippines University in Manila.