Duterte criticizes NPA for landmine use

From GMA News (Aug 7): Duterte criticizes NPA for landmine use

President Rodrigo Duterte, who was in Camp Panacan in Davao City early Sunday morning visiting the wake of four soldiers killed in clashes with the New People's Army (NPA), criticized the communist insurgents for using landmines.

Duterte pointed out that the communist insurgents were quick to invoke the Geneva Conventions "if it is to your (the insurgents') advantage."

"But one of the important, and very, maybe, humane provisions [of the Conventions] is binabawal po yung landmine," explained the president.

Duterte said that if the NPA continued to use mines, he would instruct Philippine security forces to respond in kind, and the weapon would be employed against the insurgents.

"It cannot be a different rule for you, and a different rule for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the police," argued the president. "Decide now! Gagamit ba tayo ng landmine?"

Duterte also linked the landmine issue to the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

"Include the land mine [use] in the peace talks or else - no peace talks," he added. "Then we fight for another 45 years. Walang problema!"

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/576632/news/nation/duterte-criticizes-npa-for-landmine-use