Of all the demands that Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari could make, this may be the hardest one to consider. In fact, it is a dealbreaker for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
On Tue, Sep 27, Duterte delivered a speech before more than 400 Marines during a camp visit at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters in Taguig City. He revealed that Misuari wants to include the Abu Sayyaf Group in peace talks with the government.
“Duterte added that Misuari also wants amnesty for members of the terrorist group,” reports ABS-CBN News.
Duterte was quoted as saying, “Si Misuari, I’ve been waiting for him but he seems equivocal because ‘yung proposal niya ngayon, pati ‘yung Abu Sayyaf, isali na niya at pagdating nga panahon kung magka-okay tayo, isali natin sa general amnesty.”
(“I’ve been waiting for Misuari, but he seems equivocal. He is proposing to include the Abu Sayyaf Group in the peace talks and, eventually, make them eligible for general amnesty.”)
Duterte said he rejected the proposal outright. He explained, “Sabi ko, pagka-ganun, ‘wag na lang tayo mag-usap. I will not, for the life of me, as a matter of principle. Forget about it.”
(“I said, if that is the case, it’s better if we drop the talks. I will not, for the life of me, as a matter of principle. Forget about it.”)
Referring to the Abu Sayyaf, Duterte added, “Why should I talk to animals? What’s the point? Ni walang awa. (They show no mercy).”
Duterte went on to say, “Ang mga Morong kapatid ko, sabi ko nga, federalism. Pumunta ka sa akin with a mixed crowd, including ‘yung Abu Sayyaf, bahala ka diyan. You wait for another president,” he said.
(“To my Moro brethren, my proposal is federalism. But if you come to me with a mixed crowd, which is with the Abu Sayyaf, you better get lost. You wait for another president.”)
