Air India pilots association protests absence of weekly off in roster

In a strongly-worded letter, the ICPA also said the carrier has adopted a confrontational attitude jeopardising flight safety and violated norms.

In the letter, addressed to Air India’s Executive Director for Operations on Wednesday, ICPA said, “we will not accept any further revised roster from CMS uless it is with printed weekly off”. File Photo/Agencies.

Air India pilots’ association (ICPA) has claimed that the airline has removed their weekly off in the latest fortnightly duty roster, saying that such a move creates a “perfect concoction for another disaster to happen as a stressed pilot is unsafe in the cockpit”.

In a strongly-worded letter, the ICPA also said the carrier has adopted a confrontational attitude jeopardising flight safety and violated norms. ICPA represents around 750 pilots who operate narrow-body planes and are from erstwhile Indian Airlines.

“It is evident through your actions that you are deliberately trying to instigate ICPA towards industrial unrest by violating the DGCA-approved AI FDTL scheme by issuing a revised roster removing the planned weekly off which was printed in the initial roster,” the association said.

It has directed its members to consider all non-printed (blank days) days in CMS (Crew Management System) roster as off days till such time CMS prints planned weekly off as per AI FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitation) scheme.

“We record our strong objection to your inhumane act of not planning weekly off in CMS roster. Instead of addressing our genuine concern by correcting the shortcomings in CMS you have adopted a confrontational attitude jeopardising flight safety and blatantly violating AI FDTL scheme,” it noted.

In the letter, addressed to Air India’s Executive Director for Operations on Wednesday, ICPA said, “we will not accept any further revised roster from CMS uless it is with printed weekly off”.

“We would like you to explain as to how a pilot will take care of the needs of his/her family which may also include medical requirements for ailing, elderly family members if no weekly off as planned. You are creating a perfect concoction for another disaster to happen as a stressed pilot is unsafe in the cockpit,” the letter said.

Government to review creamy layer criteria for OBC by year-end

The government will review the 'creamy layer' criteria for Other Backward Classes (OBC) by the end of this year, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawarchand Gehlot said.

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Thawar Chand Gehlot. (Source: PTI)

The government will review the ‘creamy layer’ criteria for Other Backward Classes (OBC) by the end of this year, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawarchand Gehlot said on Wednesday.

At present, 27 per cent quota in government jobs and educational institutions is given to OBCs, provided the annual income of the family is up to Rs six lakh. Those with higher earnings are referred to as the ‘creamy layer’ and are not eligible for reservation.

“There is a provision to review the creamy layer definition and other criteria for reservations after every three years. And the last review of the OBC reservation was done in 2013,” Gehlot told PTI here.

Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale had on Tuesday pitched for extending the reservation limit from the present 50 per cent to 75 per cent, with an additional 25 per cent for economically backward classes in all castes.

Gehlot’s comment comes in the backdrop of a large number of vacancies in government jobs meant for OBCs remaining unfilled for want of candidates.

According to sources, the Social Justice Ministry is working on a proposal to raise the annual income ceiling of OBCs to Rs eight lakh.

Raising the ceiling would result in a larger pool of candidates being eligible for government jobs and seats in educational institutions. Earlier, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) had recommended more than doubling this income ceiling to Rs 15 lakh.

“Even two decades after reservation (was introduced), out of the 27 per cent allocated quota, it has been seen that only 12-15 per cent gets utilised. As per our analysis, the major reason behind this is the ceiling on annual income,” NCBC member Ashok Saini had said.

As per the Mandal Commission report, in 1980 OBCs constituted 52 per cent of India’s population. The panel’s report was based on the 1931 census. The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) had in 2006 pegged the OBC population at 41 per cent.

Pakistan to acquire eight attack submarines from China

It has not officially been confirmed what type of submarines will be supplied to the Pakistan Navy by the China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC).

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and China President Xi Jinping. (file photo)

Pakistan will acquire at least eight modified diesel-electric attack submarines from China by 2028 in a nearly USD 5 billion agreement, said to be the biggest arms export deal for the Communist giant.

The head of Pakistan’s next-generation submarine programme and senior naval officials briefed the members of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence on August 26 regarding the deal worth approximately USD 4 to 5 billion, according to state-run media.

The statement made by naval officials to the committee members showed that the programme of next generation submarines was moving ahead, Radio Pakistan reported. In April, a senior Pakistan Navy official had announced
that Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) had secured a contract to produce four of the eight submarines, which will be fitted with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems. Often described as Pakistan’s “all weather friend”, China is expected to extend a long term loan to Pakistan at a low interest rate to cover the cost of the project, the report said.

It has not officially been confirmed what type of submarines will be supplied to the Pakistan Navy by the China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC) and there has been considerable speculation on the subject in the past. Analysts speculate that the new submarines will be lighter export versions of the People Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) Type 039 and Type 041 Yuan-class conventional attack submarines.

The first four submarines are expected to be delivered by the end of 2023 while the remaining four will be assembled in Karachi by 2028. These are expected to form the sea-based arm of Pakistan’s burgeoning nuclear second-strike triad. China is Pakistan’s biggest supplier of military hardware which included battle tanks, naval ships as well as fighter jets. The two jointly manufacture J-17 Thunder warplane. Pakistan’s submarine fleet comprises five Agostas — two Agosta70 and three Agosta90B — and three MG110 miniature submarines (SSI).

One of Agosta90B — Hamza (Khalid Class) — was indigenously constructed and commissioned in 2008 and another was partially completed here. The third was built in France.

Macao gears to celebrate 30th anniversary of ‘Macao International Music Festival’

With the Sinophone Rhapsodies’ as its theme the festival will be focusing on ‘Music and Arts Festivals as Drivers of a City’s Cultural Development’.

Marking the Pearl Jubilee of this much awaited music festival, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will be hosting the ‘Macao International Music Festival Forum’ which has ‘Glorious 30.

Macao has established itself as the ultimate hub for some of the hottest concerts, shows and sporting events, which account for unforgettable entertainment experiences. This year too, Macao is geared up to celebrate their highly-anticipated 30th anniversary of Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) commencing on September 28th to October 30th, 2016.

In the upcoming edition of this world-famous festival, popular musicians and ensembles from all over the world including Russia, Unites States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Mongolia, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Macao among others will be performing 27 excellent shows to enthral the music-lovers from all across the globe.

This year, the MIMF will be showcasing several works of ethnic appeal, which include renowned Portuguese pianist Adriano Jordão, the leader of renowned percussion ensemble Colin Currie Group, Colin Currie, the nationally acclaimed huqin master Xu Ke and the ‘Queen Of Pipa’ Zhong Hongyan, will be conducting master classes for budding musicians

Marking the Pearl Jubilee of this much awaited music festival, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will be hosting the ‘Macao International Music Festival Forum’ which has ‘Glorious 30. The Sinophone Rhapsodies’ as its theme and will be focusing on ‘Music and Arts Festivals as Drivers of a City’s Cultural Development’.

During this festival, various renowned guests from cultural sectors of both overseas and the nearby regions will be conducting some very interesting sessions. This year will also mark the launch of the publication ‘30th Macao International Music Festival Special Commemorative Edition’ covering programme reviews and the historical evolution of the festival in the past years, as well as insightful commentaries and news articles by former festival directors and local scholars, offering an overview of the Festival’s contribution to Macao’s cultural development over the past three decades.

Donald Trump to make dramatic trip to Mexico before immigration speech

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will meet Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday before delivering a speech on how he will tackle illegal immigration.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. (Source: AP Photo/File)

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will meet Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday in a hastily arranged visit to Mexico hours before delivering a highly anticipated speech on how he will tackle illegal immigration.

True to Trump’s flair for the dramatic, the visit will guarantee widespread news coverage for the former reality TV star. It also carries some risks for him, however, since most foreign visits at the presidential level are long-planned and carefully scripted.

Trump announced the trip on Twitter on Tuesday night and it was confirmed in another tweet by the Mexican government. “I have accepted the invitation of President Enrique Pena Nieto, of Mexico, and look very much forward to meeting him tomorrow,” Trump said.

The private meeting, which Trump and his advisers began considering last week after Pena Nieto’s invitation, will be Trump’s first official interaction with a foreign leader since he began his presidential campaign more than a year ago.

Such trips can be tricky to navigate. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, suffered a number of gaffes during a trip to London, Israel and Poland four years ago.

Pena Nieto has dismissed Trump’s demand that Mexico pay for a border wall that the New York businessman has pledged to build if elected on Nov. 8. “There is no way that Mexico could pay for a wall like that,” he told CNN on July 10.

Pena Nieto, who has publicly voiced skepticism about Trump, has been enmeshed in a controversy over whether he plagiarized some of his 1991 undergraduate law thesis.

The talks will take place hours before Trump is to give a major speech on Wednesday night as he seeks to straddle a fine line between being tough on illegal immigration but giving moderate voters a reason to give his candidacy a fresh look.

While he has closed the gap in some areas, Trump still trails Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in most opinion polls nationally and in most battleground states with 10 weeks to go until the Nov. 8 election.

Clinton has also been invited to a meeting with Pena Nieto but it is not yet clear if she has accepted, although her spokeswoman took a dim view of Trump’s trip.

“What ultimately matters is what Donald Trump says to voters in Arizona, not Mexico, and whether he remains committed to the splitting up of families and deportation of millions,” spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said in a statement.

NO AMNESTY

Trump was to deliver his remarks at 6 p.m. MST (0100 GMT on Thursday) in Phoenix, Arizona, a state that has been at the heart of the debate over the porous US border with Mexico.

Aides said he would reaffirm his determination to the border wall to curtail new illegal crossings and to quickly deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes in the United States.

But the central question facing Trump was how he would treat the majority of the 11 million illegal immigrants who have set down roots in their communities and obeyed US laws, an issue that has bedeviled the immigration debate for years.

Trump’s campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, told MSNBC on Tuesday that Trump was active in drafting his speech and was dead set against any proposal that might be seen as providing amnesty to illegal immigrants.

“The point that Mr. Trump has made again and again is that you don’t get amnesty and you don’t get legalization since you broke the law to be here in the first place,” she said. “But then he also respects it’s a complex issue.”

Trump has shown signs of indecision on whether to go ahead with his previous proposal for a “deportation force” to deport the 11 million people, saying there are some “great people” among the immigrant population and that he would like to work with them.

He was pressed in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity last week on whether he was open to any steps that might accommodate law-abiding people who had built strong family ties in the United States.

“There certainly can be a softening because we’re not looking to hurt people,” Trump said in his response. “We want people – we have some great people in this country.”

FINE LINE

Suggestions of a softening by Trump and his campaign advisers prompted conservative allies like former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to caution him against rolling back on a central pledge that helped him defeat 16 rivals for the Republican presidential nomination.

A move by Trump to moderate his stance on immigration could help him attract more support among swing voters in his uphill drive to win in November, but some of his conservative backers could be disenchanted.

“It’s vitally important that he not disappoint his supporters because they are the people who are with you through thick and thin and when you start to thin your base in hopes of adding other people to your base, it just never works,” said Republican strategist Barry Bennett, a Trump supporter.

Trump has already laid out parts of his immigration policy and they resemble some past Republican attempts at immigration reform, like using an E-verify system to ensure that employers hire properly documented workers, and swift deportation of immigrants who have committed crimes.

He has also vowed to stop some major cities’ practice of providing sanctuary for illegal immigrants and to stop immigrants from overstaying their visas.

PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik felicitated by Delhi government

The Delhi government awarded Rs 2 crore to PV Sindhu, Rs 1 crore to Sakshi Malik, Rs 5 lakh each to coaches Pullela Gopichand and Mandeep Singh.

Praising the two Indian medal winners and their coaches Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the players had honoured the gathering by gracing the occasion. (Source: Express Photo)

Amidst an auditorium full of star struck students, fellow athletes and family members, silver medalist PV Sindhu and bronze medalist Sakshi Malik were today felicitated by the Delhi government for their stupendous performance at the Rio Olympics.

The Delhi government awarded Rs 2 crore to Sindhu, Rs 1 crore to Sakshi Malik, Rs 5 lakh each to coaches Pullela Gopichand and Mandeep Singh, Rs 3 lakh to table tennis player Manika Batra and 4x400m relay athlete Lalit Mathur. The physio duo of PV Sindhu, Subodh and Kiran Challagundla, were also felicitated.

Praising the two Indian medal winners and their coaches Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the players had honoured the gathering by gracing the occasion.

“I don’t know how much we have honoured them, it is them who have honored us by being here,” he said.

The players kept there addresses short and sweet by thanking their coaches, parents and everyone for the support they received.

“We had no phones in Rio, we found out later when we came to India when people told us that the roads were empty when the matches were going on. I am thankful for your love and support,” Sindhu said.

“Thank you for the support, will need it in the future so that I can keep getting medals for the country,” Sakshi said.

Two time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar was also present at the ceremony along with Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

The rain delayed the ceremony by an hour but all was forgotten once the players reached except when the anchor called Sakshi Malik, ‘Sakshi Tomar’ and stuttered with the names of the players constantly through out the ceremony.

Talking to the media later, Gopichand spoke about the Bible like book he carries whenever he is on court and future plans for his academy.

“I write all my strategies and game plan in the book. It will take me the next 10 days to come to a decision about the academy,” he said.

Odisha: Man sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for raping minor

Failure to pay the sum would lead to an additional jail term of seven years.

Malik was arrested after the girl’s father filed an FIR with Jajpur Road police station on the following day after the incident. Representational File Photo.

A 23-year-old man was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a court in Jajpur district for raping a minor girl in 2013. Jajpur District and Sessions Judge Padma Charan Dash awarded the jail term to Kalandi Malik of Daniabar village and also slapped a fine of Rs 90,000 on him.

Failure to pay the sum would lead to an additional jail term of seven years. The fifteen witnesses produced by prosecution lawyer Ajay Kumar Das corroborated the account of the victim.

The judge observed that circumstantial evidences and medical examination of the victim also established beyond doubt the offence committed by Malik. According to the prosecution, Malik forcibly took the 15-year-old girl of his village to a secluded place and raped her while the victim was returning home alone after performing a puja on September 15, 2013 night.

Malik was arrested after the girl’s father filed an FIR with Jajpur Road police station on the following day. Medical reports of the victim had confirmed rape.

PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik felicitated by Delhi government

The Delhi government awarded Rs 2 crore to PV Sindhu, Rs 1 crore to Sakshi Malik, Rs 5 lakh each to coaches Pullela Gopichand and Mandeep Singh.

Praising the two Indian medal winners and their coaches Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the players had honoured the gathering by gracing the occasion. (Source: Express Photo)

Amidst an auditorium full of star struck students, fellow athletes and family members, silver medalist PV Sindhu and bronze medalist Sakshi Malik were today felicitated by the Delhi government for their stupendous performance at the Rio Olympics.

The Delhi government awarded Rs 2 crore to Sindhu, Rs 1 crore to Sakshi Malik, Rs 5 lakh each to coaches Pullela Gopichand and Mandeep Singh, Rs 3 lakh to table tennis player Manika Batra and 4x400m relay athlete Lalit Mathur. The physio duo of PV Sindhu, Subodh and Kiran Challagundla, were also felicitated.

Praising the two Indian medal winners and their coaches Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the players had honoured the gathering by gracing the occasion.

“I don’t know how much we have honoured them, it is them who have honored us by being here,” he said.

The players kept there addresses short and sweet by thanking their coaches, parents and everyone for the support they received.

“We had no phones in Rio, we found out later when we came to India when people told us that the roads were empty when the matches were going on. I am thankful for your love and support,” Sindhu said.

“Thank you for the support, will need it in the future so that I can keep getting medals for the country,” Sakshi said.

Two time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar was also present at the ceremony along with Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

The rain delayed the ceremony by an hour but all was forgotten once the players reached except when the anchor called Sakshi Malik, ‘Sakshi Tomar’ and stuttered with the names of the players constantly through out the ceremony.

Talking to the media later, Gopichand spoke about the Bible like book he carries whenever he is on court and future plans for his academy.

“I write all my strategies and game plan in the book. It will take me the next 10 days to come to a decision about the academy,” he said.

Singur verdict: This is a landmark victory, now I can die in peace, says Mamata Banerjee

"I am remembering those people who made sacrifices fighting for this. This is a landmark victory after we thought of the new name for State of West Bengal. Very happy with the decision," said Banerjee.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a public meeting in Singur,on Saturday. Express Photo by Partha Paul.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hailed the Supreme Court’s decision after it quashed the land acquisition in Singur by the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya-led CPM government in 2006 for allotting it to Tata to set up its Nano car factory. In a statement to the media, Banerjee said she was happy for this grand success after 10 long years.

“I am remembering those people who made sacrifices fighting for this. This is a landmark victory after we thought of the new name for State of West Bengal. Very happy with the decision,” said Banerjee.

ALSO READ: Supreme Court quashes acquisition, orders Bengal govt to return land in 12 weeks

The apex court’s decision was a shot in the arm for Mamata Banerjee and her party Trinamool Congress, which had led the protest against the allocation of land for the Tata factory. In view of the judgment, Banerjee has asked for a strategy meeting tomorrow at 4 pm.

“I would expect everyone to celebrate this Singur Utsav, it’s like an invocation of the celebration to Durga Puja. I had dreamt of this SC verdict for so long, for the people of Singur. Now I can die in peace. West Bengal is the final industrial destination, keep that in mind,” added Banerjee.

The top court on Wednesday held that the acquisition could not be said to be for a “public purpose” and hence the land should be remitted back to farmers within 12 weeks. The court also said that farmers who got compensation from the government will not return it because they were deprived of their livelihood for the last ten years. While setting aside the Calcutta High Court order of upholding the acquisition process, the Supreme Court bench ruled that the acquisition was bad in law on several grounds and that acquiring the land from the farmers for giving it to a company for a car plant could not come under the ambit of “public purpose”.

UNSC diplomats to visit South Sudan

In August, the Security Council approved a 4,000-strong protection force for South Sudan's capital of Juba as part of the UNMISS peacekeeping mission that had its mandate extended in July.

Fierce fighting in the capital Juba last month has increased fears that the five-year-old nation could relapse into civil war and prompted the United Nations to authorise the deployment of the extra troops for the 12,000-strong UN mission there. (AP Photo/Jason Patinkin, File)

UN Security Council diplomats are expected to visit South Sudan this week, a foreign affairs ministry spokesman said on Wednesday without giving any details on the purpose of the trip.

In August, the Security Council approved a 4,000-strong protection force for South Sudan’s capital of Juba as part of the UNMISS peacekeeping mission that had its mandate extended in July.

“There is no definite day that I will tell you but they are coming at the end of this week. We will confirm it by Friday,” Mawien Makol told Reuters.

Fierce fighting in the capital Juba last month has increased fears that the five-year-old nation could relapse into civil war and prompted the United Nations to authorise the deployment of the extra troops for the 12,000-strong UN mission there.

“We will have together with the government and the minister of foreign affairs to work out programmes so that the members of the Security Council can meet the President and government of South Sudan (and) continue discussing how we improve the situation making sure we have peace,” UNMISS head, Ellen Margrethe Loej, said on state-run TV after meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Deng Alor on Tuesday.

South Sudan’s government had initially said it would not cooperate with the newly enlarged protection force, but since then it has said it was still considering its position.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011, but by December 2013 the longstanding political rivalry between President Salva Kiir and his former vice president Riek Machar, had led to fighting that often followed ethnic lines.

That most recent conflict has killed thousands of people and driven more than 2 million people from their homes, with many of them fleeing to neighbouring countries.

Chris Brown arrested for assault with a deadly weapon

The Loyal hitmaker was taken to custody after an all-day police standoff at his Tarzana, California home.

Chris Brown has been arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.

Singer Chris Brown has been arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. The Loyal hitmaker was taken to custody after an all-day police standoff at his Tarzana, California home on August 30, reported Radar online.

Police arrived in the early hours of Tuesday morning after obtaining a search warrant from a report filed by a former pageant queen named Baylee Curran, who alleged Brown pointed a gun at her during a party at the estate.

“We are currently conducting an investigation at the residence of Mr Chris Brown,” LAPD spokesperson Chris Ramirez had said prior to the arrest. “Detectives are currently serving the search warrant and trying to get the occupants and Mr Chris Brown to cooperate with our investigation to find out if there’s any type of relation to what occurred this morning.”

Earlier in the day, Brown launched an Instagram rant to defend his innocence. The singer denied any wrongdoings, saying he woke up

after sleeping the whole night to find police surrounding his house.

“So I’m asleep half the night. I just wake up and all these helicopter choppers are around, the police are at the gate. C’mon, what else do y’all want from me? I stay out of the way, take care of my daughter, do work…”

“At the same time, when I call the police for stalker people that are endangering my life, they don’t come until the next day. When somebody makes up allegation about me and, oh yeah, the whole swat team… I’m innocent. I’m tired of hearing this,” he added.

Fatal shooting suspect in armed standoff in western Japan

All residents were safely evacuated by police, according to media reports.

A suspect in a rare fatal shooting in Japan was holed up at an apartment in an armed standoff on August 31 after he fired at a police car and escaped.

A suspect in a rare fatal shooting in Japan was holed up at an apartment in an armed standoff on August 31 after he fired at a police car and escaped.

Wakayama police in western Japan said that Yasuhide Mizobata is wanted as a prime suspect in the shooting August 29 at a small construction company, where he allegedly killed one employee and injured three others, including one who was unconscious.

Mizobata, 45, had been at large since August 30 night when police spotted him near the murder site and almost caught him, police said. He fired four shots at the police car, shattering its windows and escaped. Nobody was injured in the shooting.

Mizobata was seen carrying a handgun in each hand while pacing on an apartment balcony. He isn’t believed to be holding any hostage.

All residents were safely evacuated by police, according to media reports.

Television footage showed the hourslong standoff, with riot police wearing bullet proof vests and helmets standing by downstairs, while police tried to persuade him to surrender.

Gun crimes are rare in Japan. National Police Agency statistics show there have been fewer than 10 shooting deaths annually in Japan in recent years, a number that dropped to just one case in 2015.

Philippine leader rejects emergency power vs extremists

Duterte also announced that government troops and police would not enforce a warrant of arrest for prominent Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his first State of the Nation Address before the joint session of the 17th Congress in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. (Source: AP)

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte rejected proposals Wednesday for him to declare a state of emergency on a violent southern island to more rapidly defeat Abu Sayyaf extremists, who killed 15 soldiers in his government’s largest single-day combat loss so far.

Duterte also announced that government troops and police would not enforce a warrant of arrest for prominent Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari, who leads one of two large Islamic insurgent groups in the country’s south, so they could talk.

While Duterte has pursued talks with Misuari’s Moro National Liberation Front and the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front, he has ordered troops to destroy the smaller but more brutal Abu Sayyaf, which is notorious for bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings.

A massive military offensive in Sulu, a predominantly Muslim province where the Abu Sayyaf has had a long presence in lush jungles, has left 30 militants dead, including an influential commander. The Abu Sayyaf, however, struck back on Monday as the country was celebrating national heroes’ day, and killed 15 soldiers, including one officer, in fighting off Sulu’s mountainous Patikul town.

Asked if he would relent to a longstanding proposal by military officials to place Sulu under a state of emergency to allow government forces to arrest militants more easily and take tougher action against local officials conniving with the Abu Sayyaf, the usually boorish Duterte said he would not.

“No, it’s just punitive police action by the security forces of the government,” Duterte said at a news conference. “The magnitude of the trouble there does not warrant anything except the industry of the” military and police.

Duterte later flew to southern Zamboanga city to pay tribute to the slain soldiers, consoling their families and saluting in front of the row of flag-draped coffins. He announced financial help to the widows and appealed to the militants to stop their brutality. Some of the soldiers had been hacked by the extremists.

“Do not add grief to the family by destroying the body,” he said, addressing the Abu Sayyaf. “I will never allow such brutality, cruelty. I said just one bullet and it’s done once death has been ascertained.”

Duterte asked Misuari to come out of hiding after being criminally charged for his role in a 2013 rebel siege of southern Zamboanga city that left more than 200 combatants and villagers dead. Nearly 300 of Misuari’s rebel were captured.

Duterte said Misuari preferred to meet him in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and replied during a phone call Tuesday that he was ready to meet the rebel anywhere.

The 77-year-old Misuari instigated a Muslim separatist rebellion in the south during dictator Ferdinand Marcos’s rule in the 1970s, but accepted limited autonomy for minority Muslims in the south and signed a 1996 peace deal with the government. Many of his rebels, however, refused to lay down their arms and continued on-and-off attacks.

Although he has faded into the background and is now sickly, Misuari still commands a sizable armed group and Duterte said he would not dare put him in police detention, where he could die.

“If he dies for whatever reason, we’re compromised,” Duterte said. “There is going to be a conflagration, it’ll be hard for us. He’s the only known leader who has the influence and the stature.”