Duterte wants Abu Sayyaf, Reds to ‘take vacation’ this Xmas

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gives a stern warning to criminals and illegal drug suspects in his speech during the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Change of Command Ceremony at the AFP General Headquarters Grandstand in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on December 7, 2016. ACE MORANDANTE/Presidential Photo

President Rodrigo Duterte has one wish this Christmas—a peaceful Philippines.

In his visit to the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City, Duterte on Saturday said he was hoping that gunfights will stop this Christmas season as he urged communist rebels and the terror group Abu Sayyaf to “take a vacation.”

“I’d like to greet everybody, lahat na, to the Filipino people, the law-abiding, and of course, if they find it in their hearts though this is not really something for the Moro — but you know that this kind of events is closest to the hearts of the Christians — na we can have a peaceful Christmas,” Duterte said when asked about his Christmas message.

“Nakikiusap ako sa lahat na if we can have a peaceful Christmas. Maybe we can resume fighting some other day,” Duterte said. “I’d like to greet everybody, the communists, the Abu Sayyaf, in behalf of the Filipino, Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year for all.”

Duterte visited and gave financial assistance to 16 soldiers at the Camp Navarro General Hospital who were wounded in a recent military encounter with the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and Sulu.

“We should take care of our soldiers. They are giving up their lives for this Republic… at saka just to ease their pain and their suffering,” the President added. CBB/rga