President Duterte said that Mindanao has become more peaceful following the passage and ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) despite the New People’s Army (NPA) continuing to be a problem.
Duterte made the statement as he led the inauguration of the Dusit D2 Davao Hotel and the Dusit Thani Residences in Davao City late Friday.
In his speech, Duterte updated his audience about the factors that would shape Mindanao “for the worse or for the better.”
“We have been able to strike a solution in central Mindanao. There is less fighting now because of the BOL. And I’d like to congratulate my brother Muslims, Moros of Mindanao that there has been almost no incident here in the central Mindanao area,” he said.
Despite this development, Duterte said that communist insurgency continues to be his administration’s problem. He, however, expressed optimism that the government will be able to address the issue before he steps down in 2022.
“The NPAs remains to be a big problem… I just hope that we’d be able to do something about it before my term ends,” he said.
“Yun lang. You have to consider the law and order of Mindanao. I do not recommend any new economic activity or investment on the western side, especially in the islands there. I do not think that it would be prudent for you to consider it,” he added.
“Maybe, in the fullness of God’s time, we’d be able to come up with something that’s a workable solution for all,” he continued.
In 2017, President Duterte terminated the government’s peace negotiations with the communist rebels in The Netherlands due to their insincerity to the talks when they broke their own ceasefire. Since then, the government has opted to localize the peace talks.
However in July this year, Duterte slammed the NPAs over the killing of four cops in Negros Oriental, saying the group gone overboard and that their killings have become brazen and unbridled to include men in uniform as well as civilians who were murdered with impunity.
Last month, Duterte warned the NPA that the soldiers will not spare them because of the spate of killings in Negros Oriental, adding that he would implement a more severe measure to address the lawless violence in Negros Oriental, saying the NPA has gone too far.
“I will not take it sitting down… I’ve been telling you, I will implement a more severe measure. What – what is it? Maghintay lang kayo. Kasi sabi ko sumosobra na kayo,” he said. (Argyll Geducos)