Duterte wants MILF, MNLF to cut ties with ASG.
FORT MAGSAYSAY, Laur, Nueva Ecija — A day after his first State of the Nation Address where he expressed intentions of ending the decades-long conflict in Mindanao, President Rodrigo Duterte urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to cut ties with the Abu Sayyaf Group.
As he spoke to the military force based in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday afternoon (July 26), Duterte said that there will be no significant results to the planned peace talks if the MILF and MNLF maintains ties with the ASG.
“…sabay-sabay na lang ang usapan natin towards the end of the year. Ang gusto ko lang marinig sa MI (LF) pati MN (LF) na iyang Abu Sayyaf na iyan wala na ang koneksyon nila kasi iyong armas ng Abu Sayyaf iyon ang armas nila noon. Kasi ‘pag ayaw nilang bitawan o naka-konekta pa rin sila sa Abu Sayyaf, I do not think there will be a significant result.” (..together we will hold the talks towards the end of the year. I just want to hear from the MILf and MNLF that they have cut their ties with the Abu Sayyaf because the latter’s arms are from the former. Because of they maitain ties with the Abu Sayyaf, I don’t think there will be a significant result.), he said.
He said earlier that he is willing to give a safe conduct pass to fugitives MNLF chairman Nur Misuari and CPP Founder Jose Maria Sison while MILF chairman Ebrahim Murad is free to join the talks because he is not a wanted person.
On the other hand, MILF and MNLF promised to reciprocate Duterte’s commitment to the southern peace process.
The efforts to address the Mindanao secessionist-conflict has spanned 45 years with six presidents initiating talks with the Muslim rebels.
