(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he had ordered government troops to “not take prisoners” once they find the members of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf who are on the run after the incident in Inabanga, Bohol last week.
“When I said to the Abu Sayyaf…they went there maybe to kidnap..And I told the Navy, if you see (them), the boat, blast them off. Do not give me prisoners. I don’t need them,” he said in a speech at a mall in Pasay, where he led the launch of Cine Lokal.
Cine Lokal is a venue for independent filmmakers to release their work commercially.
Duterte said if a fight ensued and they surrendered, “you refuse.”
“You decline the offer of surrender and let’s continue fighting. Eventually they’ll run out of bullets,” he said.
He added he had “plenty of soldiers to spare” and had FA50 jets which he was “using” even if “they’re not supposed to be used during rebellion cases..”
Duterte also threatened the terrorist group,which he said was “already” putting improvised explosive devices even in schools such as the Marawi State University and the Zamboanga High School, where he said a grenade had been found.
He said they should not “force (him) to declare martial law for the Mindanao island.”
“Because if I declare martial law for the Mindanao island, then I will finish everything. Not only the insurgency or the rebellion, but every problem that has to be solved htere…I will solve all the problems for you, and it will really be harsh for everybody. And if I have to kill, I will not hesitate to do it,” he said.
“That’s why I said do not kill the young people. Do not place explosives..It’s totally unacceptable to me. Do it on a daily basis, then you invite me to (declare martial law in Mindanao)..And it will make you sad, very sad,” he added.
At least nine people were killed in the clash between government troops and around 10 members of the Abu Sayyaf in Inabanga last Tuesday.
The dead included three soldiers and one policeman.
The military said the bandits had gone to the area to engage in kidnapping activities but were intercepted.