President Duterte’s order to ‘destroy’ the communist movement could engulf the Reds’ legal fronts, political parties and allied NGOs, an administration official said, prompting CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison to denounce what he called state-sponsored terrorism.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was referring to the functions of the task force the President has created against communist movement with the sole purpose of decimating the rebels’ ranks.
Andanar said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB that the insincerity of communist groups in the conduct of peace talks had prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to order security forces to “destroy” them.
Moreover, Andanar pointed out that nothing good has come out of the 50-year-old communist rebellion in the country but only killings.
On Saturday, President Duterte ordered government troops to destroy the CPP after the communist group declared a ceasefire in observance of the holiday season.
“We do not subscribe to their ceasefire. We are ready for anything and I said change your paradigm. Do not fight them. Destroy them. Destroy them. Kill them. Basta destroy,” Duterte said.
In rejecting the truce, President Duterte is “out of his mind,” Sison said, labelling Duterte an abominable violator of human rights and mastermind of state terrorism.
“He exposes himself as an abominable violator of human rights. Relatedly, he has roused his armed minions to show no respect for human rights and human rights organizations,” Sison said in a statement Sunday. Nat Mariano
“He is the mastermind of state terrorism and No. 1 violator of human rights and someone truly deserving of trial by the International Criminal Court as well as by the people’s court of the people’s democratic government,” he added, calling Duterte as a “bloodthirsty tyrant.”
Snubbing the five-day unilateral ceasefire declared by the CPP and the rebel group’s 50th founding anniversary three days from now, Duterte advised his troops to always be on the lookout as he believes the communist rebels are out to topple his administration.
The President said he was really infuriated with the NPA’s Sparrow unit, telling soldiers not to fool each other by believing the infamous hit squad will not throw attacks against the government.
“Unless we are able to destroy every one of them, our children or grandchildren will still witness communism. And many of them will be soldiers, and many of them will die without seeing the outcome of what would eventually be the Republic of the Philippines,” he added, slamming anew the supposed rebellious acts of the rebels which have transpired for half a century.
He also recognized the army’s 10th Infantry Division for its “gallant efforts in combatting communist insurgency that has hounded this part of Mindanao for decades.”
“The surrender of almost 8,000 communist rebels and the recovery of some 700 firearms just this year alone speak well of the division’s commitment to end the rebellion for good,” he said. Nat Mariano