President Rodrigo Duterte. PHILIPPINE DAILY聽INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
CAMP TECSON, BULACAN鈥擳he American forces in Mindanao may have to temporarily leave the strife-torn region to give space for peace talks between the government and Moro rebels, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said.
Duterte鈥檚 statement came after he said that United States Special Forces must leave Mindanao, saying they would only worsen security risks in the region.
But speaking to the scout rangers here, the President clarified his statement.
鈥淜aya sabi ko sa Mindanao, I never said go out. One day I will decide umalis muna kayo para to give us space to talk,鈥� he said.
The President said the Moros had expressed their sentiments that peace talks would hardly succeed unless the Americans leave Mindanao.
鈥淩ight after elections, I personally sent my son. Gusto ko makipag-usap ng peace鈥abi nila, for as long as nandiyan Amerikano sa likod ng government niyo, 鈥榙i kami makikipag-usap,鈥� Duterte said.
(I want to talk peace [with the Moros]. They told us, for as long as the Americans are behind your government, we won鈥檛 talk.)
The chief executive said the Moro rebels believed that the Americans were still 鈥渕aneuvering鈥� the Philippines. TVJ