Duterte to buy new guns for ex-MILF fighters

DAVAO , Philippines — President Duterte has promised to buy new and better firearms for former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants who surrendered at least 940 weapons during a decommissioning ceremony in Maguindanao Saturday afternoon.

“Huwag kayo, do not be sad na ang armas ninyo binigay ninyo sa gobyerno. Kasi kayo gobyerno na. Eh kung kailangan talaga ninyo ng armas para idepensa ninyo ang gobyerno dito sa BARMM, walang problema – bigyan ko kayo mas bago (Do not be sad because you surrendered your firearms to the government because you now are the government. If you really want to defend the government of BARMM, there’s no problem – I will give something new),” he said during the second phase of decommissioning for former Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) fighters.

Duterte said he would be giving the former rebels something newer than the one given to him by Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim chief minister Murad Ebrahim.

He called on them to work with the government in maintaining peace in Mindanao as he assured them of continuous support for the newly established Bangsamoro region. He also rallied for unity, noting that the event marked another milestone in the history of the region’s quest for peace.

The Chief Executive acknowledged the efforts of everyone who made Saturday’s event possible, including the negotiating panels of the government and the MILF, the independent decommissioning body, and those who worked tirelessly to attain peace in the island.

“I look forward to having you as government’s partners as we take further strides in securing lasting peace and order in Mindanao. Let me also take this opportunity to assure the officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the MILF, and the people of Mindanao that this administration will always listen to your grievances. Let us set aside our differences and avoid further armed conflict,” he stressed. – With Alexis Romero