Duterte to AFP: Don’t allow clashes to spread or civilians will be armed

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday asked the Armed Forces to contain the threat of extremists and the clashes with bandit groups in a few areas in the country or else he would be forced to allow citizens to arm themselves.

Duterte recalled how the anti-communist vigilante group Alsa Masa held sway in his hometown Davao City in the 1980s.

"Just like the communist, ‘yung mga political officer nila ang delikado para sa atin. So sabi ko nga kay [Defense Secretary] Delfin, kay Lorenzana, sa lahat, we have to contain the fighting," Duterte said In a speech before newly promoted generals in Malacañang.

"We cannot afford to allow it to spread. Maraming madadamay. Else, I’ll be forced to arm everybody," he added.

Duterte again spoke of ISIS spreading its influence in the region including the Philippines.

"There is a fight at least going on, limited sa Mindanao. We have to contain the fighting in Mindanao. We cannot just uphold, to allow them to spread because ang pinaka-delikado diyan ‘yung mga scholars," Duterte said.

"Now, I’ve heard not only from... your report but from mga pulitiko, that there are about four to six Arabs—Arabs talaga—lecturing. Iyon ang pinaka-delikado," he added.

Duterte said the anti-insurgency groups eventually engaged in banditry with their weapons.

"But in the end, it also proved disaster because pagkatapos ng Alsa Masa, wala na ‘yung komunista, every Tom, Dick and Harry, who was given a firearm to fight the communist, who were using it against civilians—depredations, holdup, lahat na," Duterte said.

Duterte also reminded the military officers that terrorist groups in Mindanao and even in Indonesia are all trying to get the attention of the ISIS.

The President previously said that Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was reportedly wounded during military operations in Lanao del Sur, is the leader of the ISIS sympathizers in the Philippines. —NB, GMA News