Duterte’s fearless forecast: Reds ‘will be over’ by 2019
President Rodrigo Duterte. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
The communist rebels “will be over” by next year, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday, as he claimed that more rebels were now surrendering to the government.
“I think, if God will have mercy, the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) will be over by second quarter of next year,” Duterte told soldiers at Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela. The Chief Executive was in Isabela for a post-disaster meeting after typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut) battered the province.
Mr. Duterte in November last year terminated peace talks with the communists after the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), allegedly failed to reciprocate peace overtures from the President.
READ: Duterte signs Proclamation No. 360 terminating peace talks with NPA
But even with the absence of a peace negotiation, Duterte has called on the communist rebels to surrender as he offered them housing units and jobs.
READ: Duterte to NPA rebels: Surrender, get houses, jobs
“This time they are coming down, at nagsu-surrender ng armas at pati ‘yung mga leader nila nag-surrender,” Duterte said in front of the military.
Communist rebels, in this 2011 photo, gather somewhere in Southern Mindanao to pay their last respects to New People’s Army spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal. —KARLOS MANLUPIG
The President, whose campaign promises include ending the decades-long armed struggle in the Philippines, has repeatedly said communism as well as terrorism have always hindered the growth of the country.
“The development of our nation has always been hindered by insurgency and terrorism,” he noted.
Jose Maria Sison. FILE PHOTO / INQUIRER
Duterte’s latest remarks about the communists came days after CPP founding chair Jose Maria Sison said Duterte could be ousted “anytime between now and middle of next year.”
READ: Sison: Duterte to be ousted ‘between now and middle of 2019
The President has recently accused the communists of conniving with the Magdalo Group – rebel soldiers who railed about anomalies in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and his political rivals to overthrow him.
READ: Duterte: Reds, Magdalo, political rivals plotting to oust me
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