Duterte wants ‘death squad’ against Reds
‘I will create my own Sparrow. They will look mainly for idlers, prospective NPAS and kill them,’ says Duterte in a speech in a mix of Filipino and English
MANILA: President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte sought the formation of a “death squad” to go after members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) responsible for the ambush and killing of oficials, soldiers and policemen in connection with the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.
In particular, Duterte pointed out he wanted such squad to be assigned to track down members of the NPA “assassination unit” called the Sparrow, who would be sent to places where the insurgents would usually operate such as transport terminals, restaurants and other public places.
“I will create my own Sparrow. They will look mainly for idlers, prospective NPAS and kill them,” Duterte said in a speech in a mix of Filipino and English during the turnover of military and police housing units on the island province of Bohol in the Visayas on Tuesday night.
Duterte pointed out that that the insurgents have rejected his initiatives for peace including the holding of peace negotiations by continuing their attacks on government forces and oficials as well as on business establishments.
“What I lack is a Sparrow unit, that’s their advantage,” he pointed out. “That’s their advantage. So, I will create a Sparrow (unit) — (to be called Duterte Death Squad) — against the Sparrow. There’s no problem. They are the enemies.” Duterte did not elaborate but militant groups and human rights advocate greeted his announcement with protests, saying these would enable government forces to violate the rights of people especially in the countryside.
But Defence Secretary Delin Lorenzana on Wednesday welcomed the establishment of such squad but on condition that the members are qualiied and belong to the military who are to be held accountable for their actions.
Lorenzana’s view was shared by Director General Oscar Albayalde, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), who cited the urgent need for the members to be either policemen or soldiers who are qualiied for such assignment.
The NPA Sparrow unit gained notoriety during the Marcos dictatorship as the “hit squad” of the insurgents responsible for the killing of “abusive” oficials as well as soldiers and policemen linked to rampant human rights violations and killings.