AFP media briefing on military operations vs Maute group: continuation of military operations in the outskirts and nearby localities of Butig town in Lanao del Sur to ensure the safety of residents, following the government’s recovery of the town from the Maute group, in a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday (Dec. 1, 2016). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
MANILA, Nov. 30 (PNA) – A day after President Rodrigo Duterte hinted of considering talks with the Maute Group, the Commander-in-Chief said on Wednesday that the military offensive against is members will continue because of the group’s “insincerity” in talking peace with the government.
The military launched the latest offensive against the Maute Group on Saturday after the ISIS-linked group seized parts of Butig town in Lanao del Sur, the second time it has done so within the year.
In an interview with reporters at Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, the President said that he is doing everything to prevent a war because he does not want to wage war against fellow Filipinos as much as possible.
“To the Maute Group, I said I do not want to declare war against Filipinos, but I told them that they have to stop,” he said.
“I did not threaten them, I only said that I hate war. I do not want to wage war, but do not force my hand into it,” President Duterte said.
He said that he cannot be forever traveling to Mindanao every month to talk peace only for the killings to start upon turning his back.
When asked what he told the troops engaging the Maute Group in Butig, he said that he ordered them to continue the fight.
“They have to go on with the operations. What is there to stop? Nobody had shown sincerity there, so the fight goes on,” President Duterte said.