President Duterte has warned that the government will not allow the New People’s Army (NPA) to continue killing people in Negros Oriental, promising severe measures to address the situation.
Duterte made the statement as he led the distribution of certificates of land ownership award to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Davao City Friday.
In his speech, Duterte noted how the NPA tortured for policemen to death, saying they have gone too far.
“I’d like to say to the communists, you have crossed the red line. There never was a time that the military or myself allowed torture or to hurt people who surrendered from the NPAs or captured. I will never allow it,” he said. “I will not take it sitting down… I’ve been telling you, I will implement a more severe measure. What – what is it? Maghintay lang kayo. Kasi sabi ko sumosobra na kayo,” he added.
The President then said he ordered the military to not allow the communists to overpower the local governments and to give them what they deserve.
“The local government’s down… I will not allow you to do that. I will not. I will give you tit for tat. That’s my order to the military. Give them what they deserve,” Duterte said. “They are not fighting a conventional war. They are not obeying the Geneva Convention,” he added.
Duterte also noted how he made the communists’ promise to distribute land irrelevant since he took office three years ago.
“How can they distribute land? They have dirty nails, they do not brush their teeth, they do not even have shoes, then you pretend that you are what? You want to distribute land? By the way, do you know how to spell land?” he asked.
On Thursday, Panelo said the President may place Negros Oriental province under martial law to put an end to the killings and quell the lawless violence in the island.
“We have a village, or a barangay captain, a municipal mayor, four policemen, and a lawyer. The President doesn’t want this to happen. He wants it stopped and the only way to do that is to use his emergency powers,” he said.
Panelo said the President will place Negros Oriental under the martial rule if the military on the ground or local officials would recommend it.
On Wednesday, Duterte raised the reward money to P5 million for the capture, dead or alive, of the killers of the Negros policemen, and to P100,000 for every participant in the killing of the four policemen. (Argyll Geducos)
