Duterte calls Karapatan an ‘organization of demons in the Philippines’

Human rights group Karapatan and some members of the Lumad community calls for DOJ assistance on alleged military harassment.

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday slammed human rights group Karapatan, calling it a “front” of communists rebels and an “organization of demons in the Philippines.”

Speaking before agrarian reform beneficiaries in his hometown Davao City, Duterte also claimed that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), through its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA), is now implementing the “commune system” in Negros Oriental which was stricken with a spate of killings in the past days.

“Karapatan is a front…Kayong mga Karapatan, mga samahan ng mga demonyo ng Pilipinas, you know what you did in Negros is not just fighting. The danger there is you are now implementing the commune system of the dispirited communist party strategy,” Duterte said.

The Philippine National Police earlier sent 300 elite forces to stop the series of killings but Malacañang earlier said Duterte may resort to using his emergency powers, which include declaring martial law, to address the rampant killings in the area.

At least 13 people have been gunned down separately in towns and cities in Negros Oriental since July 23.

READ: 13 killings in 5 days stoke martial law talk in Negros

According to Duterte, the communist rebels were the ones who initiated the killings in Negros Oriental but they are now supposedly blaming the government.

“Itong mga komunista they’re blaming the government for the killings when actually you started the spate of murder there,” Duterte said.

The President also said that the “hardest hit” of the spate of killings were village officials.