Duterte wishes for a peaceful Christmas

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – President Rodrido Duterte on Saturday, December 17, said he wishes for a peaceful Christmas.

In an interview with the media after his visit to wounded soldiers confined at the Western Mindanao Command’s Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City, Duterte said, “Maybe we can resume fighting some other day.”

He also greeted communists and the Abu Sayyaf in behalf of the Filipino people a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

As for criminals, Duterte had this Christmas message: “Bigyan ko kayo isang platong shabu. Hindi ko na ipaso, ipakain ko. Galit ako sa criminal.” (I’ll give you a plate of shabu. I’ll let them eat it. I’m angry at criminals.) 

Take care of soldiers

Soldiers confined at the Western Mindanao Command’s hospital were wounded in encounters with the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

Duterte was quoted in reports as saying, “We should take care of all soldiers. They are giving up their lives for this republic…and there’s no peace after pain and suffering.”

Encounters between the military and the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu have persisted, resulting in the reported deaths of 3 soldiers and at least 3 terrorists during a firefight last week in Patikul. At least 17 soldiers were reported wounded.

The soldiers were given cash gifts by Duterte, who visited the same hospital only last July.

Armed Forces spokesman Restituto Padilla said the families of soldiers who were killed were given more than half a million pesos in financial assistance. This is inclusive of P250,000 from the Presidential Social Fund, P200,000 from the Armed Forces, and P80,000 in funeral assistance. – Rappler.com