By GENALYN KABILING
President Duterte has ruled out declaring any ceasefire with the communist rebel group during his term and vowed to “destroy” them over their alleged atrocities.
“There will be no ceasefire ever again under my term,” the President said during a televised address Monday night. “For all intents and purposes, ‘yung ceasefire is dead. Wala na ‘yun,” he added.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier announced it would not recommend to the President a traditional holiday ceasefire with the communist rebels. The military has lamented the lack of sincerity of the rebels in respecting the holiday truce, citing their continued crimes.
The government usually declares a ceasefire with the Reds during the Christmas holidays, which are reciprocated by the rebels.
In the same address, the President admitted that he “walked away” from the peace talks with the communist rebel group “because we cannot understand each other.”
Duterte insisted that the rebel demand to form a coalition government was unacceptable. He said he could be impeached or be shot by the military and police if he allows a power-sharing deal with communists.
“No stupid president will allow it. He will get impeached. You are not supposed to share that power. Those powers given to me under the law are only to be exercised unless they are capable of being delegated. I cannot compromise anything in this government. It’s either I will be impeached or the military and police will shoot me,” he said.
Duterte insisted that all communists are “bad” since they are conspiring to overthrow the Republic of the Philippines.
“I have to destroy you,” he said.
Duterte said while the anti-subversion law has been repealed, the communists have committed murder, arson and other atrocities. “These are serious offenses under the Revised Penal Code and your organization, simply communists all of you, the act of one is the act of all,” he added.
Duterte also disclosed plans to identify other people belonging to the communist rebel organization. He said he will try “to sort out what we will do to you because you are now criminals.”
“We are not only tagging you, that’s a light, we are identifying you. We will identify anytime we want. There will be a time before the my term ends, I will name all of you. Kayong lahat sa NDF,” he said.
