‘No peace without federalism,’ Duterte tells business

July 22, 2017 - 7:21 AM
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President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at the Davao Investment Conference. ( file photo by Rene Lumwag, Presidential Photo)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte made yet another pitch for federalism on Friday, telling a business conference that “there will never be peace in Mindanao or even in the Philippines if we do not shift to another structure.”

Alluding to the previous secessionist rebellions mounted by Moro groups, Duterte told the Davao Investment Conference: “I know, deep in my heart that the Muslims only want — because they do not want to fight, to dismember the country — they just want a setup like federalism.”

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