Duterte to Lanao folks: Do not support NPA

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday asked the people of Lanao not to support the New People’s Army (NPA).

He said the NPA is a group of people who do not believe in God.

“If you are associated with a person who does not believe in God; does not have a religion, if they will prevail, look at what happened to Cambodia, genocide,” he said, referring to the Pol Pot regime.

He said the Khmer Rouge, which Pol Pot headed, killed around two million people.

“You better be careful. At the end of the day, if they get Mindanao, they’ll finish us off,” President Duterte said in a speech in Marawi City.

He said instead of supporting communists, the people of Lanao should just talk to him so they could thresh out any problem.

“I’m ready to talk to whoever has dissatisfaction. Just call the (military camp), the chief of police here so they could arrange [a meeting],” he said.

“All [that] I am asking you is don’t take up arms,” Duterte said.

He said while others failed because of sincerity issues, he was ready to listen and try to solve the problem.

“Maute and whoever it is, you come down and we will talk [about] how we can improve your lives,” President Duterte added. /jpv