MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte belittled the claims of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels that it has regained its strength following attacks against military personnel in the countryside.
“Even if we have to fight each other for another one hundred years, they cannot occupy and control one barangay. They cannot even capture one barangay, that’s the truth,” he said.
Duterte expressed anew his frustrations at the failure of the NPA leadership to control its fighters.
Duterte recently met suspected NPA leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon and Fidel Agcaoili, chairman of the National Democratic Front (NDF), in Malacañang.
During the meeting with the President, they admitted having no control over their fighters in the countryside.
Speaking at the 25th defense and firearms show of the Association of Firearms Ammunition Dealers at SMX convention center in Davao City the other night, Duterte reiterated that the communist leaders have no further chance of attaining peace if they would not settle the matter under his six-year term.
Duterte said he has friends in the NPA since he was mayor but he needed to change track now that he is President.
Duterte also doubted the capability of Vice President Leni Robredo to solve the five-decade old insurgency problem with the NPA.
Duterte spoke on the possibility that he might get killed or assassinated by the NPA and Robredo would take over the presidency under the Constitution.
Duterte said he is not relying on the outcome of the peace talks with the communists at the moment. He added the NPA would not even dare to assassinate him.
“If they kill me, there would not be anyone to talk peace with them. Would they talk peace with Robredo? I doubt it,” he said in Filipino.
Duterte said he is losing patience talking with the communist rebels.
He said he wants to stop the NPA by denying them chances of beefing up their fighting capability by forcing them out of their supposed bailiwicks.