Duterte warns of war if BBL, federalism bid fail

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday raised the possibility of a war in Mindanao if Congress failed to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law or if the proposed shift to a federal form of government will not push through.

At the launch of the Overseas Filipino Bank, Duterte said that it was about time that the country correct what he called the "historical injustice committed to the Moro people."

"Because sa panahon na ito, kung walang mangyari nito sa BBL ngayon or we change the Constitution or do not change the Constitution at all, there will be war in Mindanao. I can assure you, mamili kayo," Duterte said.

"Hindi ko na ma-control ‘yan and at this time, sabi ko, it would be a double whammy because my enemy would be their friends, and who got—what would that be? It’s the ISIS," he added.

"So kayo, kung ayaw ng Congress, some say that it would be a trip to hell. Well, ako, hindi ako makialam kung ano lang ang gusto ninyo, sige," Duterte said.

"Pero pagdating ng panahon, adre, p— ina tapos na tayong nag-usap nito, sinabi ko na sa inyo," he said.

"Now, the only way is now is to save the Republic. So we’ll have to go to war again and this time, maybe, on a bigger scale," Duterte said.

"Losses, it will include civilians, as a matter of fact, most of these casualties would be civilians. ‘Yan lang ‘yan, hindi ko tinatakot ang tao," he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, at a briefing in Legazpi, Albay, said that both the BBL and the Cha-cha are priorities of the Duterte administration. But BBL should come first before Cha-cha. 

"The President has said, both are priorities; but he said that we need to pass BBL first, because as soon as we start with Charter Change, baka hindi na pumasok iyong mga provisions na kinakailangan ipasok through BBL. But both are priorities," he said. — NB/BAP, GMA News