Bong Go hits Duterte’s alleged inclusion in NPA hitlist

MANILA, Philippines—President Duterte’s trusted aide and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has condemned the New People’s Army’s (NPA) decision to include the chief executive in its “hit list.”

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon earlier bared that he and Duterte were included in the NPA’s hitlist in line with their 50th anniversary on Dec. 26.

However, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Joma Sison said Duterte’s alleged inclusion in the list is just a “malicious psywar” on the part of the government.

But Go insisted that the threats would only imperil the President’s proposal to resume peace talks.”Kung gusto niyo pala ng peace talks, wala na kayong kakausapin na tao kung papatayin ninyo. Kung gusto niyo ng kapayapaan, kung gusto niyo ng usapang pangkapayapaan, buhayin niyo ‘yan,” Go said.

(If you want peace talks, you have no one to talk to if you are going to kill him. If you want peace talks, keep him alive),” he said.

On Friday, Duterte spoke at an engagement in Manila surrounded by a bulletproof glass panel that was installed by his security staff as a precaution.

The Presidential Security Group has also admitted that they have intensified security for Duterte following threats from the communist rebels.