Published: 4:32 p.m., Dec. 6, 2017 | Updated: 7:49 p.m., Dec. 6, 2017
“Nagtraydoran ang mga traydor (The traitors betrayed each other).”
The remark, made by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday, was in reference to erstwhile allies President Rodrigo Duterte and Jose Maria Sison, the exiled founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
“Kasi parehas naman silang traydor di ba? Si Joma Sison, hindi sya pwedeng mag reklamo ngayon kasi magkakasabwat sila noong una,” Trillanes also said in an interview at the Senate, reacting to Duterte’s decision to declare the CPP and the New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorist organizations.
Ever since, Trillanes said , Duterte knew that the NPA rebels were terrorists.
“Pero magkakasabwat sila nung Davao pa. Ngayon komo nagtutulungan sila at naging instrumento yung mga komunista sa pagkapanalo niya eh pinapabayaan nya. Ngayon nililigawan niya Armed Forces,” the senator said in a separate interview.
“Ngayon dito naman kina Joma Sison, nagrereklamo siya kay Duterte ng kung ano-ano: Marami daw pinatay pero nung magkakasabwat pa sila eh tahimik naman sila sa EJKs, di ba? Kaya ganyan lang, they deserve one another,” Trillanes added.
On Tuesday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced that the President had signed a proclamation declaring the communist rebels as terrorists.
“In this regard I hereby direct to publish the foregoing designation of the CPP-NPA and all other designated persons, organizations in accordance with Section 3 and 15 of RA 10168 and its implementing rules and regulations’,” said a portion of the proclamation read by Roque.
Roque also said anyone proven to be financing the groups would be held liable under the law.