Duterte to NPA: Stay away from power plants

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte yesterday urged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to stay away from power plants and stop demanding revolutionary taxes from the power companies. 

“Do not ask because it will be the consumers who will bear the burden of higher power rates,” the President said yesterday afternoon as he led the groundbreaking ceremony for the 10.6-megawatt Pulanai hydroelectric power plant in Zone 11, Hangaron, Barangay Lumbayao in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

The Pulanai plant, owned and operated by Repower Energy Development Corp., is one of the power-generation facilities that will be constructed with the approval of the Department of Energy.

The President told the communist rebels that aside from power plants, they should also keep away from other vital utilities such as communication.

The President joked that he could instead invite the NPA guerrillas to go with him to Manila where he will bring them to the rich citizens from whom they could demand revolutionary taxes. 

The President stressed the importance of new power plants such as the Pulanai hydroelectric power generation facility.

‘Release of prisoners will have to wait’

Meanwhile, the release of about 130 communist detainees cannot be done until the government makes major headway in the peace talks with the NDF).

President Duterte said yesterday he would have to delay the release of the prisoners, mostly members of theNPA.

“This is how it is: I have conceded to the communists too much too soon. As yet, I have to see a substantive progress of the talks. They’re asking for 130 detainees to be released, all NPAs. Sorry, I cannot do that,” he said on Thursday.

The President said he would use the detainees as leverage in the negotiations for peace. Like in a poker game, Duterte said the political detainees are his “ace” in the talks.

“I cannot do it, because uubusin nila ang baraha ko. Iyong alas ko nga eh, sabihin ko sa inyo, ang alas ko iyong nasa kulungan (my cards would be used up. My aces, I tell you, my aces are those in jail),” Duterte said.

“Every time that you make, you ask for so many additional… playing a poker game here. Maubos ang baraha ko, i-release ko lahat iyan. Ano pa ang pag-usapan namin (I will have no more cards if I release them all. What else will we discuss),” the President said.

Duterte remains optimistic that presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III would be able to come back with a formal peace agreement.

“I want a document that will be honored. Because it would be under the good offices of Norway and with the participation of the Norwegians, they would sign a document – it’s a signed document that there is an agreement for a ceasefire, for a definite period until such time that we can sort out things,” he said.

Duterte said it has been his aspiration to attain peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines, which is why he earlier opted for a unilateral ceasefire.

As a sign of goodwill, Duterte also ordered the release of NPA top leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.

“I do not want a war with anybody. I’m tired of killing, tapos na ako niyan. Gusto ko istorya na lang (I’m tired of that. I just want to tell stories),” he said. 

The leftist group Karapatan in Metro Manila launched last Dec. 3 a weeklong fast to demand the release of political prisoners.

Dianne Maries Solmayor, Karapatan Metro Manila coordinator, said that “in the spirit of love and the Christmas season, we hope that the President will have a change of mind and heart over his pronouncements that releases of political prisoners will be his last card in the peace negotiations with the NDF.”

Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list group said that the release of political detainees should not be compared to a game of cards.

“They are unjustly charged, so their fate must not be treated as mere toys,” Zarate said.

He said the release of the detainees “is not a political game, but an issue of justice. “Revolutionaries were charged, but some of them are farmers, workers, students and leaders of progressive groups.”

Zarate said the government and communist rebels should soon lay down their terms on the ceasefire agreement between the two parties and on the release of political prisoners.

Meanwhile, the government panel negotiating with the National Democratic Front (NDF) upheld its commitment to facilitate the issuance of an amnesty proclamation and the release of detained communist rebels during the congressional hearing on the proposed amnesty measure last Wednesday.

Panel members Rene Sarmiento and Angela Librado-Trinidad highlighted the efforts being exerted by the government in fulfilling its obligation to the peace process to the members of the House special committee on peace, reconciliation and unity.

Trinidad said that both parties agreed in their joint statements last Aug. 26 and Oct. 9 that the government panel will recommend to President Duterte the release of detainees based on humanitarian grounds and the promulgation of an amnesty proclamation. – With Ghio Ong, Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez