ILIGAN City–President Duterte on Tuesday apologized to Maranaos for his declaration of martial law in Mindanao and for the military offensives in Marawi City that have adversely affected many of them.
“I would like to say to the Maranao people that I am very, very, very sorry na nangyari ito sa atin,” he said. “Sana sa madaling panahon, you will find in your heart to forgive my soldiers, ang gobyerno, pati ako for declaring martial law. Wala akong choice, eh, sinisira na ang Marawi. I have to drive them out. But I am very sorry.”
He said this as he visited and checked the condition of evacuees at the Iligan City National School of Fisheries in Barangay Buru-un here.
In Cagayan de Oro, Duterte later said his administration would not allow a civil war to break out.
“Ang malakas na driving force nila mapalitan na itong nationalism o ’yung paghinakit nila nawalaan sila ng lupa at malipat doon sa Isis na philosophy, gulo na ’yan,” Duterte told soldiers during his visit at the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Patag, Cagayan de Oro City.
He added: “Gulo na ’yan kasi ang mga Kristiyano sa Mindanao, mag-a-armas rin. Iyan ang ating hindi na pwedeng payagan kasi ’pag ang mag-armas na ang civilian rin, it will be a civil war.”
Duterte visited wounded soldiers and awarded them medals. They also received cash aid, among other assistance.
Duterte told the soldiers: “So ang trabaho natin dalawa na: how to hold itong mga Kristiyanos na may armas at ito namang IS sa Maute. Kaya ang pag-asa natin diyan mapabilisin natin ang peace talks tapos sabihin ko sa kay Murad pati sa MI, ‘Kayo na ang bahala diyan. Tutal kung ’yan ang gusto ninyong lugar, Central Mindanao–Lanao, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, ’yan inyo. Huwag na lang tayong mag-away.’’’
He later told reporters that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was about to submit a new version of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
“The BBL tapos na. And the MI will give it to me, I will sign it doon sa Eid’l Fitr,” he told reporters. “And if I find things in order, I will sign it. And wait for the document, the formal one and I’ll send it to Congress.”
He said it was the only way to achieve peace in Mindanao is “we go federalism.”
Duterte reiterated his promise to establish federalism as an effort to solve conflict and achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.
Meanwhile in his Iligan speech, Duterte vowed to give assistance to families affected by the Marawi siege from their immediate needs up to rehabilitation and recovery phase.
“Most important thing is that matulungan ko kayo. Huwag kayong mag-alala, tutulungan ko kayo, hindi ko kayo pababayaan, hanggang relocation,” he said.
Duterte said the government would rehabilitate Marawi and make it beautiful and livable again.
“But this I will promise you, I will set aside initially P20 billion para maumpisahan, ’yung mga mahirap ang unahin ko,” he said.
He gave financial assistance to the evacuees. Each family also received cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (pna)
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