Duterte praises AFP, PNP for the arrest of NDF’s Vic Ladlad

President Rodrigo Duterte lauds the police and military for the arrest of National Democratic Front consultant Vicente Ladlad. MALACAÑANG PRESS CORPS POOL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday lauded the military and police over the arrest of Vicente Ladlad, a consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), in Novaliches, Quezon City.

During a meeting with security officials and leaders of indigenous groups in Malacañang, Mr. Duterte hailed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) for their efforts to arrest Ladlad.

In the same breath, Mr. Duterte thanked the military and police for giving him the chance to talk to indigenous groups like the Lumad.

“Good job for the opportunity to be able to talk to the Lumads,” Esperon said, quoting Duterte.

“But it comes at a time that we have also the combined forces of the Armed Forces atska ang PNP na nakuha si Vicente ladlad, who is the chairman of the national United Front Commission,” he added.

Government agents arrested Ladlad on Thursday night in Barangay San Bartolome in Novaliches, Quezon City for alleged possession of firearms.

Ladlad was among the detained NDF consultants who were given temporary liberty to join the peace talks. But the Duterte administration terminated the peace negotiations with the communists in November 2017, citing rebel atrocities against government troops.

The government has since ordered the re-arrest of NDF advisers and other communist personalities. /kga

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