Duterte threatens to declare all-out war versus rebels听in Bangsamoro region听听
PRESIDENT听Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday warned armed groups to stop their operations in Mindanao or risk facing an all-out offensive听by government forces.听
鈥碍耻苍驳听丑颈苍诲颈听办辞听尘补辫颈驳颈濒补苍听(If I can鈥檛 stop this)听and there will be an all-out offensive,听鈥榶补苍听苍补听补苍驳听辫谤辞产濒别尘补听(that will be a problem). If I give the order, I will no longer withdraw it,鈥澨齅r. Duterte said in a televised meeting with听officials of the听Bangsamoro听autonomous region and other state authorities.听听听
鈥淚 am avoiding the situation where things will go out of control.鈥澨听
The President made the statement after听government troops听clashed with members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Datu听Paglas听in Maguindanao province听on Saturday.听听听
鈥Nagmamakaawa听ako,听tulungan听n鈥檡o听ako听(I am pleading to you, help me). Otherwise, if I give the order for an all-out offensive, it will be bloody and it will be sad),鈥澨齢e said.听听听
Despite the warning, Mr. Duterte said the government听鈥渃annot wage a war against his own people.鈥澨听
鈥Ayokong听pumatay听ng Muslim.听Ayokong听pumatay听ng听Kristiyano听(I don鈥檛 want to kill Muslims. I don鈥檛 want to kill Christians),鈥澨齢e said.听
May 13 has been declared a regular holiday nationwide in line with the celebration of听Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Islamic month of fasting or Ramadan.听听听
The BIFF is a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that signed a peace deal with the government, which paved the way for the establishment of the new Bangsamoro region.听听
MILF leaders are currently among the top officials of the region, which has been given more political and economic autonomy.听听听
Meanwhile, Mr. Duterte reiterated his order to听鈥渄estroy鈥澨齝ommunist听rebels.听听听
The tough-talking leader in March ordered authorities to听鈥渟hoot and kill鈥澨齛rmed听Maoist听rebels.听鈥斕齂yle听Aristophere听T.听Atienza听
