MILF leader calls Duterte 'next president'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was called "the next president" by a leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Saturday (February 27), when he visited the Moro group's camp in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
Duterte was given a warm welcome with some MILF members even wearing his campaign shirts. He arrived at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat at noon, and was welcomed by MILF Vice Chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.
The mayor was introduced as "the next president" by Jaafar to the members of the MILF Central Committee and other officials.
He is the first presidential candidate to visit an MILF camp. He's also the only candidate from Mindanao.
He went there to discuss with them the ongoing struggle for peace in Mindanao and detail his plans to fix the problem if he's elected president.
This move could further boost his standing in the south where people continue to suffer from conflict and many still struggle to find peace.
Related: Bangsamoro stakeholders frustrated by government’s failure to pass BBL
Jaafar asked Duterte on his plan for the revival of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The mayor assured the MILF that its territories under the BBL agreement will be recognized by him.
Although the Davao City mayor is still supportive of the BBL, he has consistently said that nothing short of federalism will satisfy the Moro people.
Duterte often criticizes the government for supposedly dribbling the BBL. He has also attributed Mindanao's lack of development to the current set up of government where power and money are concentrated in Metro Manila.
“Eh ako kung hindi ko talaga matiis, magsabi talaga ako, I will separate. I will lead a movement or be follower in that movement to separate from the entire Republic of the Philippines. Ginagawa tayong g***.”
[Translation: "If I can't take it, then I will say it, I will separate. I will lead a movement or be follower in that movement to separate from the entire Republic of the Philippines. We're being made a fool."]
Related: Duterte won’t stay in Malacañang if he wins, calls it 'a symbol of oppression'
The mayor has also warned that if the peace problem in Mindanao is not resolved soon, this could just lead to war which he hopes will not happen.
Jaafar said some have actually started doing this.
Contrary to what the military is saying, Jaafar said that those involved in the recent clashes in Lanao del Sur are not members of a local terror group or the MILF, but Moros expressing their dismay.
“So para pakita nila sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas na masama ang loob nila, bumabalik sila. But they are not extremists, they are not terrorists. Sila’y mga revolutionaries sa katunayan,” he said.
[Translation: "So they can show to the Philippine government that they are aggrieved. But they are not extremists, they are not terrorists. They are revolutionaries. "]
Related: Lanao del Sur evacuees get aid
The BBL is virtually dead in the current Congress.
Related: Monitoring team releases third report, says Mamasapano incident delays BBL
If he wins, Duterte said he will form a commission that will ensure that passage of the measure which he said would complement his plans to eventually come up with a federal form of government.
Not a campaign
Despite discussing his plans for Mindanao and the BBL with the MILF, Duterte clarified that he is not campaigning, knowing that the group has always been apolitical.
“I am here to plead na you just postpone any action whatever, a decision that might derail that peace process… Eh may eleksyon naman, why don’t you just… I’ll do everything that there will be fairness in this land,” he said.
[Translation: "I am here to plead that you just postpone any action whatever, a decision that might derail that peace process… There's an election... I’ll do everything that there will be fairness in this land."]
Duterte, however, couldn’t help himself from taking potshots at his opponent Manuel Roxas II.
“Oportunista yang b**ng na yan. Panahon ni Erap, panahon ni Arroyo nandiyan. Panahon ni Aquino nandiyan siya. Hindi mo malaman kung saan ang prinsipyo sa buhay nito. Roxas is for Roxas himself," he said.
[Translation: "He's an opportunist. During the Erap administration, the Arroyo administration, he was there. You don't know where his principles are. Roxas is for Roxas himself."]
Prior to the mayor's arrival, Jaafar said that the MILF is not endorsing any candidate and will let their members choose the candidate of their choosing.
The MILF leader, however, admitted that he is impressed with the way Duterte handled Davao City and how it became progressive and developed.
Jaafar said that what they welcomed the most from Duterte's platform was the elimination of drugs. The MILF leader said that illegal drugs is haram or forbidden in Islam and will never be tolerated in MILF territory.
Duterte also stressed the need to negotiate with the Moro National Liberation Front and the New People’s Army. As far as he is concerned, he’s the only presidential candidate who truly understands what’s going on in Mindanao.
Related: Presidential aspirants offer solutions to issues in Mindanao
He is the only candidate from the south and the MILF admitted that it is his edge for the Mindanao vote.
CNN Philippines' senior correspondent Ina Andolong, reporting from Sultan Kudarat, and Davao City-based journalist Ben O. Tesiorna contributed to this report.
