DAVAO CITY”•President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday he will order the arrest of National Democratic Front consultants if the New People’s Army intensifies its offensives against the government while martial law is in effect in Mindanao.
He warned the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines they will face the consequences if they intensify their offensives against the government while it is fighting the Maute Group in Marawi City.
Duterte said he will order the arrest of the released political prisoners if the rebels decide to press on with their attacks while the government is working to free Marawi City from the IS believer Maute group.
He said he had already tried to talk to the communist leaders and even released their detained members who were sick and those who were needed in the peace negotiation.
“If there is a breakdown of the peace and order here because of the participation of the communists in the war against the ISIS. If you want to help them, go ahead,” Duterte said.
“But I am warning the leaders whom I have released and who are now talking with my representatives of the government do not attempt to come home. I will arrest all of you and throw you to the IS.”
Duterte said if IS prevailed in the Philippines, the communist would not even have a part in the country.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said they will treat the New People’s Army as common lawless elements.
He made the statement after the CPP announced it would intensify its campaign in Mindanao.
The NDF, however, asked the CPP to withdraw its earlier announcement and said it was prepared to help the government forces put a stop on the terrorism in Mindanao.
Earlier, martial law implementor Gen. Eduardo Año said the military will not take action against the NPA as of the moment and will wait for the result of the peace talks.
On Monday, two NPA members were killed in a 40-minute gunfight with the 73rd Infantry Battalion in Matanao, Davao Del Sur, after the rebels burned a 10-wheeler truck in the area.
On the same day, four NPA members surrendered to the military in Compostela Valley Province.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines, for its part, expressed alarm over Duterte’s pronouncement.
“It will be problematic for people here (NDFP negotiators and consultants) to go home just to be arrested,” NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili said, adding that they are still studying all the possible implications of Duterte’s statement.
Agcaoili, however, stressed that the CPP-NDFP would not be forced into declaring a ceasefire to assuage the President, but said the government should consider a unilateral truce instead.
“If the government wants, they can declare a unilateral ceasefire with the revolutionary forces. Then we can consider it favorably,” he said.
“In doing so, the government would be making it very clear the target of martial law in Mindanao is only the Maute group. They would be making it very clear the New People’s Army is not a target,” Agcaoili added