Duterte eyes dialogue with terrorists

President Rodrigo Duterte is not closing his doors on having a dialogue with the terrorists, especially after the attack on Marawi City that prompted him to declare martial law in Mindanao.

"My message mainly to the terrorists on the other side: Kung madala pa natin ito ng usapan...," Duterte said as he warned hardliners that his administration will not think twice in pursuing them.

"Iyon talagang out na out na terorista na, if you cannot be convinced to stop fighting, so be it. Away na lang tayo," he said.

Duterte made the statemetn during his visit to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry (Magbalantay) Brigade of the Philippine Army in Iligan City.

According to the president, he has asked presidential adviser on OFW affairs Abdullah Mamao and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Dangcal Alonto  to set the possible dialogue.

"May mga plano ako. You will know later on," he said.

Although he said he does not want to see many fatalities amid the clashes between government forces and terrorist groups, he also told soldiers to kill those who fight them using unauthorized firearms.

"Ayaw ko ng maraming patay, gusto ko kausapin ko lang sila. But if they can’t really put down their arms, pero ang utos ko naman sa tropa, lahat ng tao na hindi authorized ng gobyerno na magdala ng baril at lumaban, patayin ninyo, ubusin na lang ninyo. Ganoon din ang labas. He will come back and fight for another day,” he said.

“But if they want to talk, I would be most thankful to Allah na mag-usap tayo ng kapayapaan. Kung maglaban sila, wala tayong magawa. Go for it," he added. —KBK, GMA News