While President Ferdinand "Bongbong"Marcos Jr. urged the military to help in achieving lasting peace in Mindanao, he told them to still remain on their toes as there are still extremist groups out there who just want to cause trouble.
"Meron pa rin diyang mga tiwalag (There are still rebels out there), there are still certain groups, I'm sure you're aware of them," Marcos said when he visited the 6th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) stationed at Camp Siongco in Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Sept. 15.
"There are still extremist groups na wala nang ideology, banditry na lang (who no longer have ideology, but banditry). They don't talk of the religion, of ideology basta't nagki-kidnap na lang, gumagawa ng gulo (they are just kidnapping, causing disorder), murder for hire," Marcos added.
So, the President commanded the soldiers to not let their guard down and keep the peace in their areas.
"Nandiyan pa rin ang threat sa inyo diyan kaya (That remains a threat to you). You cannot let your guard down also. You have to stay vigilant and stay careful," he said.
He stressed that maintaining peace and order in their areas in Mindanao is crucial as the government cannot afford to blow its chance in the current peace process, saying they will be back to square one if a huge fighting occurs again.
"'Pag may nangyari, e tigil lahat (If something happens, everything will be halted). We will have to start again and talk to everybody again but if you can keep the peace in your areas then that will be a big, big, big help para sa ating (for our) peace process," Marcos said.
The Chief Executive said all this to the troops after he encouraged them to help the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in its fulfillment of government functions, following the inaugural session of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (2022-2025).
"We must give them a chance to learn how to become a government. We should help them," he said.
Marcos was in Mindanao to attend the ceremonial opening of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in Cotabato City on Thursday.