President Rodrigo Roa Duterte salutes one of the awardees during his visit to Camp Juan Ponce Sumuroy in Catarman, Northern Samar on October 2, 2018. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to neutralize the forces of the enemy, especially the communist rebels.
Delivering a speech at a Philippine army camp in Catarman, Northern Samar on Tuesday, Duterte told soldiers that the best way to solve the decades-old problem of communist insurgency in the country is to neutralize the members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Duterte said the Reds have long been committing the crime of rebellion against the government.
The Chief Executive also said the rebels can be arrested without court-issued warrant, especially members of the infamous hit squad of the NPA, the sparrow unit.
Neutralization na tayo ngayon…There is no crime prevention because the crime is being perpetrated 24 hours a day. So hindi mo kailangan magtanong pa kung may warrant-warrant diyan. ‘Pag may dala ka ng baril diyan, sparrow ka, you can be neutralized…They are committing the crime of rebellion 24 hours a day, naghahanap lang ‘yan ng engkwentro,” he said.
(Let’s do neutralization now. There is no crime prevention because the crime is being perpetrated, 24 hours a day. So you don’t need to ask for the warrant of arrest. If you are carrying arms, and you are a sparrow, you can be neutralized. …they are committing the crime of rebellion 24 hours a day, they are just looking for encounters.)
The President assured soldiers that his order to neutralize the NPA is legal and that they do not have to worry about being sent to prison.
He also said he is ready to be criticized for this latest pronouncement.
“The best way is intelligence. Magbuhos kayo ng intelligence (Intensify your intelligence gathering). Then ‘pag nakuha niyo, it’s neutralization (Then upon confirmation, it’s neutralization). I will be criticized but I’m telling you, I am guiding you what is practical and what is true and legal.
Responding to Duterte’s statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines said in a statement that the confluence of various democratic forces will bring down Duterte.
The group also warned of more protests in the coming months over the worsening economic conditions and internal political conflicts. — Rosalie Coz
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