Rody: Bomb terrorists

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has ordered the military to conduct “bombing runs” against terrorists in Mindanao to prevent them from entering the Visayas and contain the influence of the Islamic State (IS) in the country. 

 “We have a problem with terrorism. What looms very big ahead is the IS. They are coming in,” the President  told a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 before he left for a working visit to Cambodia, Hong Kong and Beijing yesterday. “Fighting is ongoing in Mindanao. As a matter of fact, we’ve been using FA-50 jets in bombing runs.”

Duterte, who previously said the purchase of FA-50 jets was a “waste of money,” ordered the military to use its air assets to crush the Abu Sayyaf, which has about 300 members according to military estimates. 

Duterte said he expects a long-drawn war against terrorism, noting that the problem is aggravated by the drug menace. 

“Drugs are fueling terrorism in the south. That’s why we see a lot of promising drug lords there again and in the Visayas. Doon pa-landing eh (They intend to land there),” he said. 

Duterte earlier said the Maute group, an armed group with alleged ties to IS, are being funded by the illegal drug trade. He said illicit drugs serve as the “gasoline” of terrorism in Mindanao.

The President had also warned terrorists that he could “eat them alive” and replicate their atrocities  “50 times over.”