Duterte asks Abu Sayyaf: Talk or fight?

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte wants to know if the Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) is open to holding a dialogue with the government or just continue its atrocities.

In his speech at the thanksgiving party in Cebu on Saturday night, Duterte said he does not consider the Abu Sayyaf to be an enemy despite its tag as a militant group and involvement in kidnapping foreign nationals for ransom.

The tough-talking politician, however, said the group must be clear on whether it wants to be seen as an enemy.

“Abu Sayyaf, hindi ko sila kalaban. I know that is connected with the issue of Mindanao. Nais ko lang linawin, sila ba? Are they willing to talk or just fight it out?” he asked.

Duterte posed the question to Abu Sayyaf because he said he is half-hearted about using public funds to buy arms that will kill fellow Filipinos.

“But I hate to buy rifles and bullets, cannons and bombs to kill a Filipino. I could hardly move my finger to sign a document buying things just to kill my fellowmen. Masakit. Masakit sa loob,” he said.

The Abu Sayyaf, known for amassing tens of millions of dollars from kidnappings, has beheaded two Canadian nationals in recent weeks after ransom deadlines passed.

On Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday confirmed the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped seven Indonesian sailors in the Sulu Sea last June 22.

Via: GMA NEWS TV