Rody warns mining companies paying taxes to communists

President Duterte yesterday threatened to cancel the permits of mining companies paying revolutionary taxes to communist rebels.

The President said he would look into the transactions of mining firms and promised to give the financiers of the New People’s Army a “hell of a time.”

“Prankahan tayo. Nagbibigay kayo. Pero ‘pag nahuli ko kayo, I will give you hell of a time,” Duterte said upon his arrival in Davao City from his visit to India.

“Kayo nagbibigay ng malaki. I’ll just cancel your permit. I’ll tell Environment and Natural Secretary Roy Cimatu to cancel it. You are funding an organization which is bent on destroying my country, our country,” he added.

The President vowed anew to “destroy” to the communist rebels, saying the government’s peace talks with the group are over. “Itong NPA, totodasin ko talaga sila. Tatapusin ko. The talks are over. No more talks,” he said.

Duterte said he will also run after the “legal fronts” of the NPA that collect taxes from businesses.

Menwhile, after rejecting its development assistance over sovereignty issues, Duterte has urged the European Union to give the money instead to the private sector except for “Left-leaning” organizations.

The President warned that groups allied with the communist rebels might use the foreign aid to buy weapons and ammunition to launch more attacks in the country.

“I never failed to mention the gratitude of the Filipino people for those countries na tumulong sa atin. Pero ‘yung mga aid-aid ng Europe, you put conditions. You are put on advice. Bigay na lang ninyo ‘yan sa private sector. ‘Wag ninyong ibigay ‘yan sa Leftleaning kasi gastusin lang ‘yan para bala pati baril,” Duterte said in Davao City.

“Mas lalo tuloy ‘yung tulong mo na imbis makapa-gana ng buhay ng Pilipino, you are making it worse day to day because that money will be used for terroristic activity,” he added.

The Duterte government recently turned down the traderelated assistance offered by the EU amounting to 6.1 million euros or around ₱383 million. The decision came after authorities declared the Philippines won’t accept foreign aid that may affect the national sovereignty.

The President explained that he was ready to lose the EU aid that came with conditions. “I will not allow government to be beholden to no one except to the people,” Duterte said.

Duterte slammed the EU nations for not ceasing to be “imperialists,” citing their penchant to impose own values and “ethos” on the country.