Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte shakes the hand of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. during the traditional “salubong” before Duterte is given departure honors at the Malacanang Palace on June 30, 2022. Toto Lozano, Presidential Photo/File 

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s meeting with officials on Tuesday excluded discussions on his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s call for a separate Mindanao Republic, the interior department said. 

“Hindi na lang pinatulan. Let us put it that way,” Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said in a chance interview with Palace reporters. 

Duterte recently floated the idea of having Mindanao secede and said he had tasked Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez to gather signatures for their advocacy, citing a supposed "UN process" for it.

Duterte said the lack of development in the island prompted him to revive the movement.

Abalos said last week that the Philippines should “remain united and undivided” and that “secession is not the answer to Mindanao’s concerns.” 

DND, DOJ warn against further moves for Mindanao secession

“Napakasimple niyan ‘no. Ang linaw sa Konstitusyon, nakalatag kung ano ang Pilipinas; gaano kalaki ito; anong isla ang kasama rito," Abalos said.

"Kung mayroong gagawa at paghihiwalayin ito, I mean, lahat tayo, that’s a violation of the Constitution. Talagang ganoon ka-seryoso ito ‘no, kung titingnan mo. It’s a dismemberment of the republic."

 But he said that it was up to the justice department to determine whether former president Duterte could be criminally liable for advocating for the separation of Mindanao.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said it would uphold its oath to protect the country’s territory and the rule of law. 

“Also on a personal note, lumaki po tayo sa field and I grew up also in Mindanao as a young officer and we have our own share of iyong mga sacrifices natin diyan,” Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda said. 

“Ngayon at natitikman na natin ang kapayapaan and as of now kinakausap sila, sabi nila: 'Let’s not go back to those days. Let’s give peace a chance.' And I think, what we have now maganda na ito. So, I don’t think na guguluhin pa nila iyong sitwasyon,” the PNP chief said. 

DISBAND TASK FORCE DAVAO? 

In a separate briefing, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) disputed reports that there are plans to disband Task Force Davao due to its supposed loyalty to the Dutertes.

“The EMC [Eastern Mindanao Command] has made a statement. We made some clarification, and there is no such issuance for any directive for the disbandment of TF Davao,” Col. Xerxes Trinidad, AFP Public Affairs Office chief, told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. 

Lawyer Harry Roque, former presidential spokesperson, recently said he heard talk that Task Force Davao would supposedly be disbanded soon.

In a statement released on Monday night, the Eastern Mindanao Command said “there are no instructions coming from higher headquarters to remove TF Davao from its present mandate.”

“The Eastern Mindanao Command, under the leadership of its commander, Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, will continue to do its mission of providing all means to secure the people in its joint operational area,” Eastmincom said.

"All the units under Eastmincom are vital to accomplish the given tasks."