Mindanao now is relatively peaceful, he said during an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Saturday.
“The contentious issue in the yesterdays were the BARMM at napagbigyan naman natin si Murad, and dito sa Jolo, in-order-an ko ang Armed Forces to place one division, marami ‘yan. And so medyo nagkalma na,” he said.
Duterte said the government has maintained a good rapport with the Moro of Mindanao by allowing them in the governance of the country and giving them enough elbowroom to know and govern without interference from armed groups.
He said only the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) are sowing mayhem because of political differences.
The President said for the longest time, there is no kidnapping incident in the region as well as attacks on security forces or depredation victims.
Duterte pointed out that the Muslim population’s animosity with the government has also waned after the administration addressed the issues concerning Mindanao.
“The Moro hatred dahang-dahang nawala sa kanila because gipagbigyan natin sila sa lahat at anong hiningi nila. As a matter of fact, pinakamarami sa administrasyon ko na maraming mga Moro,” he said.
The President cited the appointments of Muslims in the government such as the new chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), justices in the Supreme Court (SC) and Court of Appeals (CA), as well as officials in different government agencies.
“Even in the Cabinet may tatlo ako o apat noon, namatay lang si Alonto, and one was --- got sick. But there were four of them of the maybe three and half years of my term,” he said.
Duterte said the government has achieved its objectives in keeping the peace in Mindanao, militarily stressing if the equilibrium is maintained, the region will be trouble-free.
He also said the administration’s successes in modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including the doubling of the AFP’s modernization budget.
Duterte said the AFP now has a fleet of new fighter jets, helicopters, and heavy lift aircraft.
“I would say that we have a strong military. That is what I promised. I said that I’ll leave the presidency with a strong military, ” he said.
The President said aside from modernizing the armed forces, the government also increased the pay of personnel, boosting their morale.
Photo from Presidential Communications