Duterte tells military: ‘Learn art of assassination’

MANILA, Philippines – In a move to counter New People’s Army’s (NPA) liquidation unit, also referred to as “sparrow,” President Rodrigo Duterte instructed the military  to “learn the art of assassination.” 

“If NPA has sparrow, why don’t we have one? So I told them, ‘Form a unit, target the NPA,’” Duterte said Saturday during the National Federation of the Motorcycle Clubs of the Philippines’ annual national convention in Iloilo City.

“I told them to learn the art of assassination,” he added.

 Duterte also advised the military to just “kill yourself” instead of being captured by communist rebels.

Duterte added that he does not want to see decapitated soldiers after being held captive.

 “I do not want to see planes carrying decapitated soldiers. Put the gun in your mouth and shoot yourself,” Duterte said.

 “If you surrender, you will be brought to their camp and treat you like a dog,” Duterte said, adding, “There are homosexuals there, too. They will use you day and night. Do not go into that kind of s*** there. You die a warrior. You kill yourself. Do not surrender.”

 The president said that the military are continuously being targeted by NPA rebels seeking to overthrow the government. He also said that Abu Sayyaf “cannot be satisfied by whatever deal that you can offer them”.

 In March, Malacañang ended the negotiations and peace talks with communist rebels.