NDF hails Duterte’s bashing of US

DAVAO CITY – The National Democratic Front (NDF) lauded President Duterte’s anti-US  statement, calling it “unprecedented” even as  the  rebel group urged the President to junk unequal agreements with the US.

“The National Democratic Front in Southern Mindanao commends President Duterte for his unprecedented statement,” said the statement signed by Rubi deal Mundo, spokesperson of the NDF in Southern Mindanao. “No other Philippine president has ever publicly censured and taken US imperialism to task for its atrocious crimes against sovereign nations and peoples of the world.”

The NDF said that the US, accustomed to high regard as a colonial master, only has “had nothing but blind kowtowing from previous Philippine puppet regimes,” referring to the previous administrations.

“Now at this critical time of its decisive hegemonic pivot to Asia and China’s challenge to its regional dominance, US imperialism’s sham ‘concern for human rights is being challenged with open hostility by a government it considers its reliable lackey,” the statement said, referring to the Philippines.

“The US government should be reminded and brought to justice for the millions of deaths in its hands, perpetrated in the name of consolidating its imperialist power over other sovereign states.”

The statement said the US is worried about the present developments unraveling in the Philippines— the prospect of peace based on social justice.

“It can lose its control of the country if the peace negotiations with the NDF, and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) should translate to the socio-economic and sovereign interest of the Filipino people,” the statement said.

“Hence, it is in its best interest to exploit anti-Duterte forces to sabotage the peace negotiations with the NDFP and preempt any substantial talks with Moro revolutionary groups by fomenting anti-Moro sentiments with US-backed bombings and other terrorist attacks.” it added.

But the NDF said calling US imperialism a “two-faced terrorist” is a “fundamental step,” but it’s not enough.

“It must also translate to junking colonial agreements for the benefit of the Filipino people,” the NDF statement said. “President Duterte and his government must abrogate the Mutual Defense Treaty and junk the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement,” explaining that these policies only continue to “position the Philippines as a willing pawn for US imperialism’s wars of aggression.”

The NDF said Mr. Duterte must persevere with his anti-imperialist stance in the course of the Asean summit in Laos, chart an independent international policy by repudiating US intervention and neoliberal policies and enjoin other member-nations to do the same.

The NDF also urged President Duterte to seriously consider the central components of the proposed Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (Caser), the next substantive agenda in the recently resumed talks between the rebel groups and the government.

The statement said that Caser  aims to “unchain the economy from the fetters of neoliberalism by advancing genuine land reform and national industrialization.”