MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte Wednesday cursed at communist rebels for attacking government forces after declaring a holiday ceasefire.
Duterte said the communists are “terrorists” who have no sense of honor.
“Tingnan mo, ceasefire, may… saan ba ‘yun? May inatake na naman sila. Walang honor talaga itong mga p******* i**** ‘to. L**** (Look, there is a ceasefire. Where was that? They attacked someone again. They really do not have honor. Son of a b****),” the president said during the meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Lanao del Norte.
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Duterte was referring to an Army report stating that the New People’s Army, the armed wing of communists, attacked a government militia patrol base in Compostela Valley last December 25.
The same report also claimed that about 30 NPA rebels tried to kidnap a government militiaman on the same day in the same province.
“These communists are braggarts. They talk as if they are somebody. That’s why I call them ‘terrorists,’” Duterte said.
“There was no agreement between us and the NPA. The forces of government are free to operate. They are the ones who started it,” he added.
READ: Military vigilant against attacks as CPP marks anniversary
Duterte has terminated the peace talks with the communists, citing the rebels’ supposed demand to establish a coalition government, a set-up that he said would force him to “share” the Philippines’ sovereignty.
He has also classified the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines, the political wing of the rebels, as “terrorists.”
Despite the scrapping of the talks, Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire with the communists that took effect from 6 p.m. on December 23 to 11:59 p.m. on December 26 and on the same hours from December 30 to January 2.
READ: Duterte shortens holiday truce with Reds
The NPA reciprocated by declaring a ceasefire that took effect 6 p.m. on December 23 to 6 p.m. on December 26, and the same hours on December 30 to January 2.