BULACAN, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte clarified his earlier statement on wanting United States troops to stay out of Mindanao.

Duterte said he doesn’t want them out of the region right away, but that he might want them out once peace talks between the government and Moro separatist groups are underway.

“I never said ‘go out.’ One day, I might decide, alis muna kayo (you leave first) to give us space to talk,” said Duterte on Thursday, September 15, during a military camp visit in Bulacan.

Last Monday, Duterte had said, “Kaya ‘yang mga special forces (Those special forces), they have to go. They have to go.” (READ: Duterte: US troops should stay out of Mindanao)

He had then explained that American troops in Mindanao would make the situation there more tense and could endanger the lives of “white” people in the region.

But in his Thursday speech, he said the presence of US troops would make it hard for the Mindanao peace process to proceed.

He said this was the sentiment expressed by Moro separatist groups to his camp. Right after elections, Duterte claimed to have sent one of his sons to “talk peace” with Moro groups in Mindanao.

“Right after elections, I personally sent my son. Gusto ko makipag-usap ng peace…Sabi nila, for as long as nandiyan Amerikano sa likod ng government niyo, ‘di kami makikipag-usap,” said Duterte.

(I wanted to talk peace…They said, for as long as the Americans are behind your government, we won’t engage in talks.)

Duterte said such groups still think the Philippine government’s acts are backed up by “Americans’ maneuvering.”

Duterte has also been speaking with Moro Islamic Liberation Front leader Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari.

The strong anti-American sentiment of these groups, Duterte said, comes from the abuses and violence perpetrated by American troops to quell Moro insurgents at the start of the 20th century.

Recently, Duterte has been showing images of the bloody aftermath of the Bud Dajo massacre in which around 600 Moros were killed by Americans in Sulu.

He also made headlines worldwide recently for calling US President Barack Obama for not answering for these past atrocities. 

Despite this, the President assured the troops, “I’m not against the Americans.”

Duterte also criticized “pretend-to-know announcers” who think massacres of Moros in the American colonial period are no longer relevant.

“It is not one century ago. The fighting  is now one century old! They fall short of their projection. Kaya hanggang ngayon, they see us as an extension of the Spaniards, the Americans. Ang tingin nila, we are the extension of a series of imperialism,” said Duterte.

(That’s why until now, they see us as an extension of the Spaniards, the Americans. In their view, we are the extension of a series of imperialism.)

Peace in Mindanao was among Duterte’s major campaign promises. 

The Philippine government resumed talks with the MILF last August in Malaysia. Duterte hopes to meet with MNLF leader Misuari about the peace process.

A new Bangsamoro Basic Law is among the Duterte administration’s list of priority legislative measures. – Rappler.com