PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Former President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 call for a separate and independent Mindanao should not be entertained, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said on Monday.聽
鈥淟et us be united, let us not entertain these ideas,鈥� Acorda said during a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Acorda said that the nation should remain united to honor the sacrifice of the country鈥檚 heroes.
鈥淢arami na pong buhay at dugo na nasakripisyo鈥︹�� Acorda said. (So many lives were sacrificed and blood shed.)
鈥淚t鈥檚 not good, after all the sacrifices of our heroes and other kababayans and now that we are enjoying peace,鈥� he added.
Acorda earlier said that chaos may ensue if the former president鈥檚 call for a separate Mindanao pushes through, but there is no cause for alarm as of now.
On January 31, Duterte claimed that local political forces would regroup in the Davao Region to start a movement for Mindanao鈥檚 independence.
The new movement, he said, 鈥渨on鈥檛 be a bloody one鈥� and would be headed by Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.