Duterte eyes dev’t of Jolo airport if peace comes to Mindanao

President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to improve and open the Jolo airport to commercial flights if the Moro people would agree to stop the decades-long armed conflict in Southern Philippines.

Duterte made the remarks in a speech before the troops at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu.

"If you agree for peace, I will lengthen the runway and make it operational day and night. Iyan ang sinasabi ko sa inyo. And I will bring Arab investors here para wala kayong masyadong dynamics," Duterte said.

"I-guarantee lang ninyo ako na gusto na ninyo maghinto sa away at mag-usap tayo," he added.

The President repeated in his speech that he was also part-Moro through his mother's side. He added that he has grandchildren who are part-Tausug as his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte was once married to a "Moro lady".

The Jolo airport is the only one in Sulu province. It is classified as a minor domestic airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

But for the most part,  Jolo can only be accessed through ferry rides from Zamboanga City.

Duterte said that his ties to the Moro people make him want peace more than anyone else in the country.

He said stressed that his mother was a Maranao.

"I would like to appeal to all, we stop this war. I am pleading para wala ng dugo," he said. —NB, GMA News