Philippines committed to peace with Reds – Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Days after offering a reward for killing rebels, President Duterte has assured Norway’s special envoy for the talks with communists that his administration remains committed to peace. 

Duterte made the commitment during his meeting with Idun Tvedt, Norwegian special envoy to the peace process between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), in Davao City last Thursday. 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Tvedt reiterated the commitment of the Norwegian government to assist the Philippines in its peace process with the communist rebels. Norway served as third party facilitator of the peace talks.

“The President welcomed Norway’s expression of commitment and stressed that the goal of peace must be achieved with due regard for the national interest of the Philippines,” Roque said.  

“The President stressed that the Philippines is committed to peace,” he added. 

The meeting, described by Norwegian officials as “productive,” came days after Duterte promised to give P25,000 for every communist rebel killed.

In a speech before newly appointed officials in Malacañang last Tuesday, Duterte said offering bounty for the communist guerrillas is cheaper than launching a campaign against insurgency. 

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte was serious about his reward offer to those who would kill rebels. 

“If the President says he will give P25,000 to lumads (indigenous peoples) who will kill NPA (New People’ Army) members during encounters, he is not joking,” Andanar told radio station dwFM yesterday. 

“Insurgency has been a huge problem of our country and we saw how (communist leader Jose Maria) Sison announced that a soldier would be killed every day. The President will now allow this,” he added. 

The meeting between Duterte and Tvedt was held months after the President scrapped the negotiations with the communist rebels and classified the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the political arm of the rebels, as “terrorist organizations.”

Explaining his decision to terminate the talks, the President had claimed the communists were pushing for a coalition government, a setup that he said is not allowed by the Constitution because it would force him to “share” the Philippines’ sovereignty.

He also cited the NPA attacks that harm civilians and its alleged extortion campaign that targeted businesses. 

Duterte also sparked controversy recently after saying that female members of the NPA should be shot in their vaginas to render the body part useless.

Duterte slammed

The Melito Glor Command-NPA-Southern Tagalog (MGC-NPA-ST) strongly condemned yesterday Duterte’s order to military troops to shoot female communist rebels in their genitals to render them useless, calling it “vulgar, unethical and immoral.”

In a statement posted on the CPP website, MGC-NPA-ST spokesman Jaime Padilla said the President is an “irresponsible sexist.”

“His series of statements against women even before his statement regarding our female Red fighters are irresponsible sexist remarks unbecoming of a leader,”? Padilla said.- Jose Rodel Clapano