PRRD wants leftists ousted from Congress

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte blew his top and blasted militant groups who continue to support the New People's Army (NPA) following the deaths of a four-year-old child and two others in an ambush in Bukidnon last November 9, 2017.

"You know, that is an intentional act. It is not an accident. 'Wag mong sabihin 'di mo alam 'yan na may disgrasya 'yang bata namatay," Duterte said during the opening of TienDA at the Abreeza Ayala Mall, Davao City on Saturday.

To stir up his anger some more was the traitorous assassination of a policeman in Tugbok, Davao City, who was shot dead by two communist rebels who hitched a ride with him on his motorcycle last November 13, 2017.

"We will file terrorist, murder lahat. Arson with murder. Lahat na. Because I would consider them criminals already. Now, it's a great conspiracy between itong mga Bayan pati. They are in conspiracy with the rebellion going on," the President said.

Now, he wants militant groups to be booted out of Congress.

"We will study and maybe we will have a crackdown here somewhere. Nagsasawa na ako dito sa kalokohan nila," the President said.

In a statement, Anak-

bayan national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said, "That Duterte is contemplating a crackdown against activists and progressive groups speaks much of his antipathy to any criticism and his thirst for absolute power. Repression is the logical consequence of equating all dissent with destabilization."

Meanwhile, the President labeled the NPA as a terrorist group and he is looking into issuing a proclamation on this.

"I'll be issuing a proclamation. I will remove them from the category of a legal entity or at least a semi-legal movement which would merit our attention, placing them pareho sa Amerika, terrorist," Duterte said.

The President said he is set to order the army to eradicate the NPA.

For their part the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) assured that they will intesify their security operations against the NPA especially now that the group is gather its forces for a possible planned offensive on their anniversary on December 26.

"Nakatutok talaga tayo sa hot threat nga NPA. Mas lalo nating paigtingin ang ating security operations so that we can prevent yung mga attrocities being conducted by CCPNPA-NDF sa community na kung saan nandyan ang ating pagprotekta," saod Major Ezra Balagtey, spokesperson of EMC in an interview with Sun Star Super Bali ta yesterday.

For his part, Major General Noel S Clement, 10ID Commander said, “The acts of NPA no longer conform to an ideology they are fostering. There is no difference between them and the common criminals. They burn trucks and buses, recruit minors, deceive the masses, and they murder innocents just like what they did to a 4-month old baby in their deliberately planned ambush against law enforcers and government forces in Bukidnon."

He said the group's leaders and its members should be answerable to the law of this country.

"They must face the consequences of their brutal acts. No amount of apologies can mend a mother’s broken heart. She has wonderful plans for her child just like any mothers who worked so hard for their children’s future," Clement said.

“We are calling the undying support of the people to continuously be vigilant and report to the Police or Military units with the cooperation of the Local Government Units, the presence of these 'criminals' in your communities. I would just like to remind everyone that cuddling of criminals is punishable under the Law. The government still true to its program for those who want to surrender and that 10ID also supports the Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the Provincial Local Government,” MGen Clement added. JPC