The Communist Party of the Philippines on Friday denied the allegations of security officials that there is a “hit list” that includes President Rodrigo Duterte, saying the claim only aims to hamper the planned resumption of peace talks.
In a statement, the group said the allegation of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. that the communist group wants President Duterte and other officials killed only seeks “to sow intrigue” and block the impending negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front, CPP’s political wing.
“Together with fellow peace antagonists Delfin Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense and DILG’s Eduardo Año, Esperon is adamant in adhering to… President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement to resume the peace negotiations with the NDFP,” the CPP said.
Esperon on Tuesday said the CPP’s armed wing New People’s Army would assassinate people, including the President, and those who do not submit to their will as they mark their 51st year of existence on Dec. 26.
READ: AFP rules out Xmas ceasefire with Reds
Presidential Security Group Commander Jose Eriel Niembra said this was not surprising, as he vowed that his team has been taking steps to protect the President.
The claims came after President Duterte ordered Labor Secretary and government’s peace negotiator Silvestre Bello III to go to the Netherlands to talk to CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, NDF senior adviser Luis Jalandoni, and NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili, in a bid to go back to the negotiation table.
President Duterte halted the peace talks with communist rebels in November 2017 as he lamented their continued attacks on government troops and civilians.
On Friday, several congressmen backed a resolution supporting the government’s efforts to resume peace talks with the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna Party-list group said a total 131 lawmakers from different political affiliations signed House Resolution 636 which he said: “sends a strong message of support from the members of the House in pursuing the peace process as a way of ending the root causes of the more than five-decade armed rebellion.”
Other congressmen who signed the resolution were Deputy Speakers Boyet Gonzales of Mandaluyong, Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Evelyn Escudero of Sorsogon, Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, Minority Leader Benny Abante of Manila and Deputy Minority Leader Kit Belmonte of Quezon City.
The resolution said that efforts to resume peace talks with the communist group should not be wasted.
Meanwhile, the military said three members of the New People’s Army were killed in a shootout, while three of their female companions were arrested in Quezon City on Thursday.
Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo, Quezon City Police District chief, said killed during the operation were Eleuterio Agmaliw, alias Ka Omeng; Freddie Daileg, alias Ka Daryl and Lucio Carbonel, 57, of Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines called the killing of two ranking leaders of the NPA was “a devastating blow” to the communist rebels.
“Residents near their safehouse in Damong Maliit, Novaliches were relieved to know that these fugitives who are wanted for destructive arson, murder, frustrated murder, and rebellion were neutralized,” said AFP spokesman Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo.
President Duterte on Friday called on the youth to join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, as he urged them not to be fooled by the leftist ideology.
“Join. And take it as a requirement before you can graduate. Bear with it because that is supposed to be the life of a Filipino student,” the President said in a speech before security officials and student cadets.
He also said the ROTC program inculcates values to the youth, such as discipline and respect to authorities, which are necessary for nation-building.
“We need to undergo ROTC training so when the time comes, you know how to assemble an armalite and to fire a gun,” he said.
The President also underscored the need of a reserve force that can be mobilized anytime.
“You know I am lazy. I hate to wake up every Saturday in the morning to go to ROTC training. But now I realize that this is important,” Duterte said.
“They [soldiers] are in the frontline. I cannot tell if they will be gone when a bomb explodes or through machine gun so we have to have a reserve force that can be mobilized anytime,” he added.
He also urged the youth not to fall for the promises of communism.
“You, youngsters, don’t be fooled to the ideology of the idiots. We have gone through that. I used to be one of those but later I realized that nothing else would be good except to have law and order and one government,” he said.
The President said this during the closing ceremony of the National ROTC Summit and his brainchild program, the first Presidential Silent Drill Competition, held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
Duterte said he was inspired to conduct a silent drill contest when he went to China and saw every sundown drills before the flag is lowered, adding that he wants it done in the country.
“I want it done everyday whether there is somebody watching or none. Do it for the country… I want you to go into a sort of an activity to honor Rizal and our country. Do it and I order it everyday. It will be spearheaded by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.
Seven schools participated in the competition, namely: Philippine Military Academy, Philippine National Police Academy, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, Philippine Army Officer Candidate School, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School, and Philippine Navy Officer Candidate School.
The PMA topped the drill competition, followed by PNPA, and PMMA.
They received P300,000, P200,000, and P100,000, respectively.
The remaining schools received P50,000 each.
The ROTC, which aims to provide military training, is a component of the National Service Training Program.
It used to be a requirement for college students, but became an optional course in 2002 after a student cadet of the University of Santo Tomas was found dead—his body floating in the Pasig River—after exposing corruption in the training program.
READ: Reds scoff at safe-passage offer, bat for talks in ‘neutral country’