Duterte prepares EO tagging communists as terrorists

The President revealed on November 29 that an executive order (EO) is now being prepared declaring the New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorists.

During the send-off ceremony for the Vietnamese fishermen at Sual Wharf in Pangasinan, President Rodrigo Duterte once again sidetracked from his speech to address another concern which was about the communists.

“I am preparing now. They are preparing the executive order declaring them to be terrorists and they will be afforded the treatment of being criminals,” he said.

According to Duterte, he stopped the talks with the NPA as they are not really serious. He said that they do not have the “echelons” to put up a fight, and they are just being “comfortable” by biding their time. He added that the “active sparrows” as he called them, have been ambushing his policemen and soldiers.

“Kasi itong mga NPA walang kahiyaan nila, pati ‘yung mga sundalo ko pati pulis na magpunta lang sa kampo especially itong mga army, lalabas ng kampo paturay-turay lang kasi hindi naka-uniporme and they are just also like a dog, pinapatay (Because of the shamelessness of this NPA, even my soldiers and police, especially the army, whenever they go to camps, they will go out unguarded since they are not in uniform, they are also just like a dog, being killed,” he said.

He cited an incident of two soldiers who went to the bank and were killed with “72 gunshot wounds,” which infuriated him.

Duterte then went on by saying the NPA have also been into extortion after burning “equipment of business interest and foreign nationals.”

“So what will be my orders to the –? ‘Di (Then) shoot them. Eh they will kill you anyway. So if there is an armed NPA there or terrorists, if he’s holding any firearms, shoot,” Duterte said.

“And tell any… ako na ang magsagot (I will answer), you just shut up. Do not answer, if that issue of human rights, you say, ‘Go to Duterte. It is and was his order,’” he added.

While this was his order, he still stressed that it is not his job to promote war and violence. “You know, my job is to seek peace with everybody to attain peace for my country,” the President said.

He also said that his orders are out of humane reasons.

Duterte then added, “For one, those who were above 70 like me, parang ako na ang napapagod para sa kanila (I think I am the one who feels tired for them). Although leaders, sabi ko (I said), ‘You can go.’ Anyway, they cannot go far. They cannot climb those mountains there. You will find them – sa mga ospital o sa kwarto ‘yan, nagpapahinga na (in hospitals or in rooms, resting).”