With Bangsamoro law in place, Duterte invites Abu Sayyaf to peace table

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday asked Moros to give the Bangsamoro Organic Law a chance to pave the way for peace and development in the southern Philippines.

In a speech before victims of the recent fire that razed 2,600 homes in Jolo, Duterte again called members of the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group to the negotiating table.

"Iyong BBL tapos na. Bigyan lang natin ng panahon. Huwag tayong mag-giyera... Wala naman problema mamatay tayo, Mamatay man tayo lahat," Duterte said.

"Ang problema, ang mahirapan ang mga bata, matanda, pati mga babae. Mag-iwan lang tayo ng maraming orphans. Maglaki ng walang tatay, hirap ang nanay," he added.

Duterte earlier this week signed the BOL, the embodiment of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro that the Philippine government signed after peace talks with Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The CAB was signed under the Aquino administration but the crafting of the law was stymied after MILF members figured in the Mamasapano massacre of PNP Special Action Force troopers in 2015.

"Huwag natin pasukan ‘yan. Hindi panahon natin ‘yan. Hindi ‘yung away na pwede tayong makipagsapalaran na ubusan. Mag-usap na lang. Iyong Abu Sayyaf, mag-usap na lang tayo," Duterte said.

"Ano bang gawain natin? Magpatayan tayong lahat? Ako, pwede niyo akong patayin maski saan. Anong makukuha ninyo?" he added.

"O, kung mamatay itong mga sundalo ko bukas, marami namang papasok. Walang katapusan. Noon pa ‘to eh," Duterte said.

Duterte pointed out that having a President with Moro blood in Malacañang was a rare opportunity.

"Ngayon, may Presidente kayo na may dugong Moro. ‘Di bigyan ninyo ako konting panahon," Duterte said.

"Mag-usap lang tayo," he added.

It was the second time that Duterte offered peace to the extremist group in as many days.

“My message to the Abu Sayyaf is: I come in peace. Balita ko galit sila sa akin. Bakit kayo magalit sa akin? Ano bang ginawa ko sa Moro para magalit kayo?” Duterte said in a speech during a visit to fire victims in Zamboanga City on Thursday.

He urged the bandits to end their “cruel” activities even as he joked about imposing tax on the ransom being paid to the Abu Sayyaf by their captives.

“Nagbabayad ba ng taxes ‘yang mga kidnapper? Kasi kwentahan ko sila magkano ang kita nila,” Duterte said.

“Sana mahinto na. Huwag naman masyadong cruelty kasi hindi tayo ganun. Tayong mga Malay, hindi tayo ganun. We are not as vicious as the Arabs. Ganun talaga… I’m not insulting the Arabs. Ganun talaga ang ano nila, how they fight," he added.

In March, Duterte went to Sulu to see if Abu Sayyaf members turning themselves in were given the same treatment as the members of the New People's Army (NPA).

He said that NPA surrenderees in Davao region were given houses, jobs and training by the government.

“For those interested, government is ready... malaki man itong Sulu. Hindi ako mag-condo-condo. Gawa na ako konting mga bahay-bahay. And I can accommodate you. Just give me about two years,” he said in a speech on March 26 in reference to Abu Sayyaf members wanting to surrender to the government. —NB, GMA News