President Duterte is praying that the war between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict between China and Taiwan would be resolved peaceably through negotiations as killing human beings is senseless.
Duterte said this amid ongoing geopolitical tension in Europe and Asia. Russia and Ukraine have been at war since February this year, while China recently vowed to "fight at any cost" anybody who would split Taiwan from the Asian superpower.
In a speech in Manila on Sunday, June 13, the President hoped that none of the countries concerned would resort to violence.
"If you start to bomb (the) civilian population, that is not the behavior that we would like to see in this 21st century," he said.
"At this late day and age of our civilization, I cannot really find a very cogent reason why a war should break out," he added.
"I am praying that this can be sorted out by just talking. There’s really no need to kill a human being," he continued.
Duterte reiterated his warning about the world being in jeopardy if Russia decided to use its nuclear weapons.
"Aside from the fact that there is really danger to the world if Russia decides to use nuclear arms, ‘pag naipit siguro sila (maybe if they're left with no choice)," he said.
"I hope the Ukrainians would have the common sense na hanggang boundary lang sila (to not cross their boundary) because they are using the arms of the United States and of the West," he added.
"Pagka mag-intrude sila sa (If they intrude on a) territory, you know that would really put the entire population on this planet in jeopardy. Tutuyo talaga ito (It will dry up). So we are praying that it would not happen," he continued.
Meanwhile, President Duterte said that he would not send "gray ships" to the West Philippine Sea amid the ongoing tension between China and Taiwan and even after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) protested China's "illegal activities" at the Ayungin Shoal.
"We continue to talk. We do not send gray ships there because ‘yung mga barko na ano panggiyera ‘yan (those ships are for wars). It would project a different picture for everybody," he said.
He reiterated that the Philippines would not stand a chance against China.
"We cannot afford to fight with China. We cannot win, and we will lose, and the population will suffer," Duterte said.
"The Filipino nation would be in a very tight situation, a quandary of how to go about, I said, navigating the geopolitical issues in Europe and here (in Asia including) Taiwan," he added.