MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte has warned residents of Basilan and Sulu against supporting the militant Islamic State (ISIS), citing reports of their presence in the two provinces.
Duterte said the IS had thrived in Middle Eastern countries because of the US’s interference in their internal affairs.
“The truth is if they did not kill Saddam (Hussein) and (Muammar) Gaddafi, if they did not invade, then there would not have been an ISIS to speak of,” Duterte said in Filipino.
“ISIS is a product of desperation. It first exploded in Iraq, then Syria…and it is getting worse because they are desperate,” he added.
The President stressed there is no such desperation in the country.
“You (ISIS) are driven by hate. We do not have it here so do not follow them,” he told the crowds in Bunuan, Maguindanao on Friday.
“Why should we follow ISIS? We are not oppressing anyone here. We are not bombing people here,” Duterte added.
TIME online earlier reported some experts as being worried over the creation of an ISIS stronghold in Mindanao to lure regional supporters and provide combat training, among other possibilities.
Other reports said other groups, like the Abu Sayyaf, is supporting the ISIS leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
“Now there is a chance that maybe, we can talk about peace…Mindanao was really yours. Don’t doubt about it...then the Christians came. It is their (Christians) fault that Magellan started converting...that’s the history of our nation. We just have to understand it. It doesn’t say that you have to hate each other. We can always develop this country. Make everybody happy. Let us respect each other,” Duterte said.
The President went to Basilan on Thursday pleading for peace as he talked with the troops who have been battling the Abu Sayyaf for the past several weeks.
Duterte also met with local officials led by Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman. They later had a chat with the troops. – With Roel Pareño