A Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader on Sunday supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for Moro rebels to deny sanctuary to terror groups.
Speaking to ABS-CBN News, MILF First Vice Chairman Ghazali Jaafar guaranteed there will be no shelter for terrorists in their territory in accordance with their peace deal with the government.
“Matagal na tayo sumusuporta sa kampanya kontra terorismo,” Jaafar added.
(We have long supported the campaign against terrorism.)
He also affirmed support for Duterte’s crackdown on illegal drugs, promising that the MILF would not coddle any drug-tainted group.
Duterte on Friday warned the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that he will order an attack on their camps if they coddle terrorists.
“I am pleading, do not allow the Maute and the other terrorist groups to seek refuge in your camps, otherwise mapipilitan ako sabihin sa Armed Forces na pasukin ninyo,” Duterte said in a speech when he visited soldiers who had been wounded in clashes with the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups.
The military on Thursday night launched an offensive against terror groups in Butig, Lanao del Sur. The military operation aims to capture Abu Sayyaf senior leader Isnilon Hapilon, who is now reportedly the “emir” or leader of the Islamic State group in the Philippines.
Duterte said he is prepared to engage in talks with extremists but not with the Islamic State.
“I still want peace. I’m ready to talk pati yung extremists kung ano ang correction na gusto ninyo but yung ISIS contamination, I can no longer control it,” he said.
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