MANILA, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to conduct “bombing runs” against terrorists in Mindanao to prevent them from entering the Visayas and to contain the influence of extremist group Islamic State (IS).
“We have a problem with terrorism. What looms very big ahead is the IS. They are coming in,” the president told reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on Wednesday.
“Fighting is ongoing in Mindanao. As a matter of fact, we’ve been using the FA-50 jets on bombing runs,” he added.
Duterte said he expects a long-drawn war against terrorism, which he said is made more serious by the drug menace.
“Drugs is fueling the terrorism in the south that’s why we see a lot of promising drug lords there again and in the Visayas. Dun palanding e (They intend to land there),” he said.
“I’d like you to know itong droga, wala itong katapusan (the drug problem is endless).”
Duterte said some terrorists are now involved in illegal drugs as they view kidnap victims as burdens that they have to bring with them while evading government forces.
“If they stage kidnappings, it’s a burden it’s like a baggage, they have to carry their victims,” he said.
Duterte, who previously described the purchase of the FA-50 jets as a “waste of money,” has ordered the military to use air assets to crush the Abu Sayyaf, which has about 300 members according to military estimates.
Last December, Duterte said the Maute group, armed rebels with alleged ties to IS, are being funded by the illegal drugs trade. He said illicit drugs serve as the “gasoline” of terrorism in Mindanao.
The president has also warned terrorists that he can eat them alive and replicate their atrocities “50 times over.”