PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte threatened to kill five rebels for every government soldier killed by the New People’s Army, after Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison vowed to kill one soldier a day if the government does not resume peace negotiations.
Duterte made the statement in front of former communist rebels whom he treated to a meal in Malacañang, saying he could match each soldier’s death with the lives of five NPA rebels.
“Go kill one soldier a day. To the military, you kill five NPA rebels for every soldier killed. Does he think I cannot do it, too?” Duterte said, referring to Sison.
“I can order the military to kill five rebels for every soldier killed. As long as they are NPA members, whether male or female, kill them,” Duterte said in Bisaya.
Duterte also took a swipe at his former professor in political science at the Lyceum of the Philippines, saying Sison is desperate to rule.
“His brain is already melting. What did he teach you? Kill people, ask money from the poor and the rich though arms. His work is like holding up everyone in the Philippines,” he said.
The President also told the former rebels that the government is doing all it can to provide them free education, jobs and other benefits that many ordinary Filipinos enjoy.
In criticizing the CCP leader, Duterte asked his audience, “What did Sison do? Do you know that person? He wrote a book about communism. Europe was also poor before, that’s also what they wanted. But now, Russia is the number one communist. And here in Asia, China is the capitalist.”
He also told the more than 200 rebel returnees, “Where is Sison now?”
He said Sison wanted many things but could provide them only weapons.
“Do you want to get the government through arms? Because the Filipinos have a government. It has leaders. I am here, General Guerrero is here, the officials. They are not rich,” he said.
“Communism remains. What do they do? They get the government through arms. That’s the difference,” the President said in a speech that ran almost two hours.
Duterte also asked the rebels: “Who is your god? Is it Sison? Where did the sacredness come from? His book is being taught to you and to others. You will also follow.”
But Duterte also recalled that when he was mayor of Davao, the NPA were his friends.
“Remember I went to the mountain and talked to you because I had to rescue some people. Police and soldiers. Then I went there because I [was] just a mayor. I’m only interested to work,” he said.