Abu Sayyaf excluded from Duterte’s peace initiatives

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would not talk peace with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), whom he described as “criminals.”

Speaking to troops from the military and police here at the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) headquarters, Duterte said he will “insist on peace” only with groups with ideologies.

“We have to seek peace, not only with the communists. We have to insist on peace even sa ating mga Moro na kapatid. So, ganon rin. As I talk to the communist, I will talk to the MI, MN, and all the armed groups there,” Duterte said.

“Hindi kasali ang Abu Sayyaf. I will not talk with criminals. Hindi dapat pagusapan… Only those with an ideology...Kaya nga nag-rebelde nga sila because they think that they can have a better life, Pilipinas can have a better life under them, which is crazy,” he added.

Duterte reiterated his statement during his first State of the Nation Address that criminals will be “destroyed” during his administration.

“‘Yung mga criminal, wala na. You have to destroy them. There’s no other choice. There’s no ideology. There’s not a program of government for the people. There is not alternative na sige, kami ang ilagay kasi ito ‘yung aming magandang paraan sa — Nothing,” he said.

Earlier this month, Duterte said he does not consider the ASG as criminals because the group had been “driven to desperation.”

"Kaya sabi ko I am not including Abu Sayyaf dito sa criminality. You've never heard me say ‘mga kriminal,’” Duterte explained. “It is a different set up there because these are the guys who were driven to desperation."

However, in his state address on Monday, Duterte said the full force of the Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP) will be applied to crush the ASG. —NB, GMA News