By Genalyn Kabiling
MB File - President Rodrigo Duterte. RENE LUMAWAG /Presidential Photo/Manila Bulletin
President Duterte has asked for China’s assistance to help boost the country’s military weaponry after ordering full military offensives against Islamic State-linked group led by Isnilon Hapilon in Lanao province.
“I have an urgent message to China to help us. Kung mayroon silang precision-guided arms, they can give us a loan,” the president said in a press conference after meeting with top military and police officials in Malacañang.
The president said he has authorized to use all resources to neutralize Hapilon and his men within Lanao province before they carry out more bombings in the country.
“I have ordered the full press military operations kasi uulit ‘yan, uulit ‘yan. And if they are desperate enough, they would resume bombing. That is why i said to the military and the police to embargo the place. You contain them in that area alone, Lanao. Sana huwag na lumabas sa ibang lugar,” the president said.
“I have also asked the Armed Forces to use all available assets and all the weaponry at their disposal,” he added.
Duterte said Hapilon, who was reportedly injured during military airstrikes, has been given the “blessing to be the leader of ISIS” in the country.
“He is now the top honcho of the ISIS dito. He is billeted somewhere in Lanao and we have a full time military operation there,” he said.
Duterte admitted that he was afraid of the Islamic extremists since they detonated improvised explosive devices “several times” in his home city of Davao, including the market explosion last September. “So that to me could the more dangerous thing for us,” he said.
He said the Islamic extremists were dangerous because they kill without compulsion. He said they don’t even differentiate between women, children and other innocents. “It’s mass insanity,” he said.