Duterte to rebels: If we cannot really agree, then we fight hard hanggang magkaubusan na

President Rodrigo Duterte warned that if rebel groups cannot settle for peace with the government, state forces would intensify their efforts until all the troops and fighters die.

Duterte made the statement on Sunday during the awarding of medals to the wounded soldiers of Joint Task Force Sulu, after the twin bombing last week in Jolo where 15 died and 74 were wounded.

“If we cannot really agree, then we fight. And we fight hard hanggang magkaubusan na. Maybe by that time, kung ubos na ang lahat, wala nang giyera,” Duterte said during the event which was aired on Monday.

“Sapagkat ngayon, hindi ko mapigilan ang mga sundalo ko kasi may misyon sila. And the mission is to crush the insurgency,” he added.

Duterte admitted that resolving insurgency in the Philippine would be hard because of the resentment among rebels.

“May dalawang taon pa ako. Ewan ko kung ano ang magawa ko talaga. When you go into a fighting, may galit na ‘yan. Mahirap ito aregluhin kasi lahat may sugat na sa puso,” he said.

“It would take more than a generation to do this,” Duterte added.

On August 24, twin explosions rocked Jolo. The first blast was located in front of a grocery store when an improvised explosive device, placed on a parked motorcycle, exploded.

The military said security forces were conducting security patrols in the area when the explosions happened.

Military officials said Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Mundi Sawadjaan is the suspected mastermind behind the Jolo bombings.

The government has offered a P3 million reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of Sawadjaan and other Abu Sayyaf members.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) chief Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr. said on Sunday that Sawadjaan is stuck in Patikul, Sulu.

On Saturday, the 3rd and the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion of the Philippine Army exchanged gunfire with the Abu Sayyaf group including Sawadjaan in Barangay Kabbon Takas.

WestMinCom said two alleged Abu Sayyaf members and one soldier died in the clash, while seven other soldiers from the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion were hurt. —KG, GMA News