‘Don’t kill my soldiers’– Duterte
DAVAO CITY (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte said he was not going to sign any agreement with the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) if rebels continue killing soldiers despite the peace negotiations.
President Duterte admitted telling government Chief Negotiator Silvestre Bello III to finish the 50year insurgency, or continue 50 more years of fighting.
The government’s negotiating team and the NDF panel are set to meet in Noordwijk in the Netherlands for the fifth round of talks on May 27 to June 1. Both panels are expected to tackle the terms of a bilateral ceasefire and the socioeconomic reform agenda, which have been the subject of meetings by reciprocal working groups.
“I’m pissed off already because they have been attacking my -- ‘my’ because I’m the Commander-in-Chief – so my soldiers and my policemen,” he said during Friday’s opening of the four-day 25th Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines (AFAD) Defense and Sporting Arms Show at the SMX Convention Center here.
The Chief Executive said he has to protect his soldiers because he is the commander-in-chief.
He further noted that he was then friendly to the NPA but there have been irreconcilable differences when he became president.
”Ngayon na-Presidente ako, siyempre iba na ang papel ko, ‘di away kami (Now that I am President, of course, I have a different role). So unless they really stop killing my soldiers and policemen, there will be no peace in this land,” the President said.
He recalled that he was first to declare a unilateral ceasefire but they disrespected it and killed soldiers.
President Duterte said he has been patient despite his sharp words.
“I am a President for peace. I am not a wartime President. My job is to bring peace to my country,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, a top AFP official has urged businessmen and rural-based private companies not to give in to alleged extortion demands of the NPA.
“By doing so, the business community would be doing service to the government in putting an end to the force taxation and terroristic activities of the NPA,” said Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., commanding general of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID).
The region’s ranking AFP commander said the NPA has now resorted to extortion activities and banditry to raise money because the rebel group was already losing the support of the community.
“It is very clear that the NPA is losing the support of the people and they are now resorting to extortion activities and this must be stopped,” Madrigal said.
“The duo (father and son) decided to go back to the folds of law, citing difficulties because of the relentless military operations,” Uy said.
To date, at least 50 ASG members have already surrendered to the military authorities since the military offensive began in January. (With a report from Mike U. Crismundo)