THERE will be no ceasefire with the communist rebels during this year’s holiday season, or “ever again,” during this administration, President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Monday night, as he vowed to “destroy” them over their alleged atrocities.
In his weekly address to the nation, Duterte said the ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), has long been dead.
“There will be no ceasefire ever again under my term — under my term ko pagka-Presidente. For all intents and purposes, ‘yung ceasefire is dead. Wala na ‘yon. Matagal na ‘yon (There will be no ceasefire ever again under my term, my term as president. For all intents and purposes, the ceasefire is dead. It’s long gone),” he said.
The Philippine government traditionally agreed on a holiday ceasefire with the communists during the Christmas holidays, which were reciprocated by the rebel group.
The military, however, announced it would not recommend to the President a traditional holiday ceasefire with the communist rebels, citing their continued crimes.
Earlier this year, the government and the CPP declared a ceasefire to make way for the country’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The CPP had extended its truce by 15 days. Both sides said the other launched attacks during the ceasefire.
In the same public address, Duterte said the resumption of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), CPP’s negotiating arm, was likewise “dead.”
He admitted that he “walked away” from the peace talks with the communist rebel group “because we cannot understand each other.”
“When I walked away from the talks because we cannot understand each other. Maybe we were talking in different dialects, I don’t know why, but I simply cannot understand the way it was being carried by the other side, the way it was being played. What was evolving before me was something that was not acceptable to the Republic of the Philippines, lalo na ‘yang (especially that) coalition government,” he said.
The President 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 allowed 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 also insisted that all communists were “bad” since they were conspiring to overthrow the Republic of the Philippines.
“I have to destroy you,” the President said, adding that 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 said.
Duterte also disclosed plans to identify other people belonging to the communist rebel organization.
He said he would try “to sort out what we will do to you because you are now criminals.”
“So what do we do? Well, I’m trying to sort out what we will do to you because you are now criminals and I said I have pointed out we are not only tagging you. That’s a light… We are identifying you and we will identify you anytime you want. But there will be a time before my [term ends], I will name all of you, kayong lahat sa NDF,” he said.