Duterte tells leftwing groups: ‘We are not red-tagging you, we are identifying you as communist fronts’

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night told leftwing groups the government is “not red-tagging” them even as he said they are legal front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

In a televised briefing, Duterte said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is correct in identifying the groups “as members in the grand conspiracy comprising all the legal fronts that they have organized headed by the National Democratic Front.”

“Again, may I repeat for the nth time, we are not tagging you, we are identifying you as communists. It’s a grand conspiracy so the liability of a mere soldier is the liability of all the members of the organizations, ‘yung mga front,” Duterte said.

Among the groups that Duterte mentioned in his tirades were the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives which is composed of six lawmakers from Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers Partylist, Gabriela Women’s Party, and Kabataan Partylist.

“Itong mga legal fronts ng mga komunista, lahat yan (These legal fronts of the communists, all of them) Makabayan, Bayan, they are all legal fronts—Gabriela. We are not red-tagging you. We are identifying you as members in the grand conspiracy comprising all the legal fronts that they have organized headed by NDF,” Duterte said.

“No, the AFP is very correct. You are being identified as the members of the communist para alam namin. ’Yun ang totoo, hindi red-tagging (so that we will know the facts…it’s not about red-tagging),” said the former Davao City mayor who used to publicly flaunt his ties with leftist rebel groups operating in Mindanao.

Duterte  likewise questioned the ideology of communists, saying they do not have one.

“There is no longer any ideology. Wala tong mga komunista.., gusto lang nila umagaw ng gobyerno. Mga bobo naman, ang p******a. Sino ang bright si Sison? ‘Yan ‘yung bright si Sison? Susmaryosep!” Duterte said, referring to exiled CPP founder Jose Maria Sison.

(There is no longer any ideology.  These communists are nobody…they’re only out to grab power. Yet they’re stupid. Who’s your smart guy, Sison? My God!)

The President also took a jab at Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, a member of the Makabayan bloc in the House.

“Sa totoo, Zarate pag nakitakita sa TV, para akong nakakita ng tae ng iro. Para akong nakakita ng tae ng aso, sa totoo lang,” Duterte said.

(Frankly, each time Zarate pops up on TV, I see dog shit…)

INQUIRER.net has asked Zarate’s camp for a comment but has yet to receive a response as of posting time. [ac]