Duterte tells soldiers: ‘Neutralize’ all rebels

First, President Rodrigo Duterte told soldiers early this year to shoot female New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in the vagina, which his spokesperson said should not be taken literally.

Now, he has a new order: “Neutralize” all the rebels you encounter since there is no need to arrest them because they are engaged in rebellion every day anyway.

Donning a military cap and a camouflage shirt over plain dark pants, the President issued the order when he spoke on Tuesday to troops from the 803rd Infantry Brigade in Camp Juan Ponce Sumuroy in Catarman, Northern Samar.

It was the third military camp he had visited since he disclosed last month the so-called Red October plot by rebels and others in the opposition.

“It’s neutralization …. There is no crime prevention because the crime is being perpetrated 24 hours a day. So you don’t need to have a warrant,” Mr. Duterte, a former city prosecutor, said.

NPA ‘Sparrow’

He added that an armed NPA “Sparrow” member, or a member of NPA hit squad, “can be neutralized.”

“They [rebels] are always looking for encounters [with government forces],” the President said.

He told the military that the “best way” to go after the rebels was to step up intelligence.

“Then once you get them, it’s neutralization,” the President said.

In military parlance, “neutralization,” could mean killing the enemy or rendering them incapable of doing anything against friendly forces.

He said he expected criticisms of his new directive.

“I will be criticized, but I’m telling you, I’m guiding you [on] what is practical and legal. That is legal,” he said.

He told soldiers to “shoot first” if they believed their lives were in danger as they confronted rebels.

“That is my order,” he said. “Do not worry. If that is the circumstances, I am there for you. And I will not allow that you will go to jail for a day.”

The President also repeated his promise to provide all government soldiers with pistols that they could use to kill themselves instead of surrendering to the enemy or being captured alive.

“I hope you have received by this time or shortly… so everybody in due time will have a sidearm,” he said.

The President said he would rather have soldiers kill themselves than be taken alive and “treated like dogs” before being beheaded or murdered. —With a report from Julie M. Aurelio