“I don’t see anything good coming out of this war. For the sake of our children, we have to stop this war,” the President said.
Mr. Duterte vowed to “find ways to resolve the problem.”
The President, clad in white polo shirt and blue jeans, arrived in a helicopter at the 104th Army Brigade headquarters in Barangay Tabiawan here.
“I know the problem here, and I assure you that I will find a way to end the conflict here,” the President said.
Basilan is known as home to the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.
“We have to stop this war. If we cannot stop it, this one I will repeat in my SONA , do not hate anymore,” the President said.
“Wag mong dagdagan sa puso mo ang galit. If we cannot stop fighting, do not hate anymore,” he said.
The President did not specify the rebel group his message was directed to, but he did mention the Abu Sayyaf at one point.
Mr. Duterte vowed to “find ways to resolve the problem.”
“I know the problem here, and I assure you that I will find a way to end the conflict here,” the President said.
Basilan is known as home to the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.
“People are afraid to return because Abu Sayyaf will kill them,” he said.
The President did not specify the rebel group his message was directed to, but he did mention the Abu Sayyaf at one point.
“I am pleading for peace, pati sa mga Abu Sayyaf — they have committed so many crimes, killing people,” he said, adding that government troops to go to Basilan as a “reaction” to the kidnapping and killing perpetrated by the bandit group.
“Troops come here because there are people being kidnapped, killed. It’s just the reaction of the government,” the President added.
Mr. Duterte again called on the Basileños to “take away hate because hate would drive and kill many.”
“Let’s talk, instead,” he said.