President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday stressed anew his promise to the Filipinos that he would secure lasting peace in Mindanao.
“To our brothers and sisters who have been affected by the violence and conflict in Mindanao, I assure you that the government is committed to securing just and lasting peace in the island,” President Duterte said in his speech before an audience of Muslim Filipinos as he graced the Eid’l Fitr celebration held at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace.
The Chief Executive said the military and police remain hard at work to ending the crisis with dispatch, especially in Marawi City.
At the same time, Duterte said the government will continue to support Muslim Filipino scholars like Omar O. Sacar and Abdul Aziz A. Banisil to help improve the capabilities of the country's youth.
Sacar and Banisil are now studying at the Imam Muhammad Bin Saud University in Indonesia.
Duterte hoped that the two will become part of the next generation of leaders who will help develop and advance their localities towards greater prosperity and progress.
Amid the continuing conflict in Marawi, Duterte said the entire nation stands beside the Muslim Filipino community.
“We will be with you as you rebuild your homes and localities, and as you realize your dreams of a better life,” he said.
Also in his address, the President expressed his sentiments over the misguided goals of the Maute group, which he said are against Filipino values and are only geared towards destroying lives and communities.
“Ang masakit sa akin, na pumasok a fractured ideology na hindi naman malaman sila mismo kung ano ang ginagawa. All that they want is to kill and destroy. Paano tayo mabubuhay niyan?” he said.
The President called for national unity as he extended his greetings of peace for the Eid’l Fitr celebration.
“So let us unite to achieve our common goals. With our solidarity and faith in each other, let us make Mindanao and the Philippines a land of order, stability, harmony and prosperity,” he said.
