President Rodrigo Duterte once again released a forceful order to the military and police to shoot any members of the communist party or the so-called New People’s Army (NPA) following his decision to terminate the peace talks with the rebels.
“So, if there is an armed NPA there or terrorists, if he’s holding any firearms, shoot. And tell any ako na ang magsagot [I will answer], you just shut up,” Duterte said during the ceremonial send-off of Vietnamese fisherman in Pangasinan on Wednesday.
Duterte added that he will answer any human rights issue that may arise as the government forces continue its shoot-out war with the NPA.
“Do not answer if that issue of human rights, you say, “Go to Duterte. It is and was his order… Sabihin mo [tell them],” Duterte said.
“And so? You are destroying my country, you expect me to pat you in the back and say, “dahan-dahan ka lang [take it slowly]?” Duterte added.
The President said in the same speech that he is preparing an Executive Order (EO) declaring the communist rebels as terrorists.
“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.
[READ: Duterte prepares EO tagging communists as terrorists]
He also warned the police and military to be vigilant as the ‘sparrows’ (NPA) are active and they are now on the offensive.
“They are now on the offensive and that is why I said, “Kayong mga pulis [You, police], just a little bit of vigilance.” The sparrows are really active,” Duterte said.
Referring to his decision of terminating the peace talks with the rebels, Duterte said that he sees that the NPA are not serious about negotiations.
“Ang (With the) NPAs, pinutol ko na [I’ve cut it (peace negotionation)] because I think that they are not really serious. Just biding their time. They do not have the second echelons to carry the fight and they just want to be comfortable,” Duterte said.
For the record, President Rodrigo Duterte earlier called the attention of the NPA rebels to lay down their arms and cooperate to the resolution of the “longstanding armed conflict” in the country.
He also offered that he will provide jobs, housing opportunities from National Housing Authority, livelihood, and financial assistance to NPA fighters who will surrender to the folds of the law.
“I’ll give you a job. Automatic, they will have their jobs. And I’ll give you a space, instead of giving to the soldiers,” Duterte said earlier.
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