President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC
‘Deal with the government in good faith or we fight for another generation.’
This was the stern warning of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) amid an ambush of government militiamen in Davao del Norte staged by the communist group.
“So, I’d like to issue this statement: Hindi ko kayo tinatakot. Pag ayaw ninyo, okay sa akin. We fight for another generation. Okay sa akin. Wala na akong magawa (I am not scaring you. If you don’t want to (deal with the government, it’s okay with me. We fight for another generation. It’s okay with me. I can no longer do anything about it),” Duterte said in a speech at the 60th Infantry Battalion headquarters in Asuncion, Davao del Norte on Friday.
During his State of the Nation Address (Sona), Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA.
But on Thursday, the President threatened to cancel the ceasefire agreement if the CPP-NPA would fail to give an explanation on the ambush and reciprocate the unilateral ceasefire.
READ: Duterte gives CPP-NPA ultimatum to reciprocate ceasefire
“Deal with us, deal with me in government, in good faith. Wala tayong bolahan (Let’s not fool each other), because I have shown already many years ago my sincerity and I’ve been selling this idea to you. We need to stop fighting,” he said.
He said he is offering peace to everybody to end the decades-long insurgency in the country.
“’Pag ayaw niyong tanggapin ‘yan (If you don’t want to accept it then all I can say is)— Thank you,” he said.
Duterte has given an ultimatum to the CPP-NPA to reciprocate the government’s unilateral ceasefire until 5 p.m. on Saturday.
In a statement, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Duterte was “disappointed and exasperated” that the CPP has not reciprocated with its own declaration of a ceasefire.
READ: Duterte gives communist rebels ultimatum to respond to truce
Abella said Duterte was bent to lift the ceasefire if the rebel groups group won’t heed the government’s call. IDL
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