Troops ordered to ‘shoot and kill’ Reds

From the Manila Times (Mar 7, 2021): Troops ordered to ‘shoot and kill’ Reds (By Catherine S. Valente)

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government troops to “shoot and kill” armed members of the New People’s Army (NPA), saying they were just “bandits” without any ideology.

Duterte claimed that leaders of the communist rebel group have earned “billions” by extorting money from businesses, including “malls” in Manila.

Duterte made the statement during the joint meeting of national and regional task forces to end local communist armed conflict (Elcac) in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday.

“That’s why I told the military and police that during encounters, if the enemy is holding a gun — kill them; kill them right away,” Duterte said mostly in Cebuano.

“Ignore human rights. That is my order. I’ll be the one to go to jail — no problem,” he added.

Incessant attacks of the NPA on government troops prompted Duterte to sign Proclamation 360 on Nov. 23, 2017, scrapping the peace negotiation between the government and the NPA’s political wing — the National Democratic Front.

The termination of the peace talks was followed by the signing of Proclamation 274 on Dec. 5, 2017, classifying the NPA as a terror organization.

Duterte, on Dec.10, 2018, directed the National Task Force-Elcac via Executive Order 70 to provide mechanism and structure for the implementation of the government’s whole-of-nation approach to ending the 51-year-old communist insurgency in the country.

Duterte said the communist rebels are fighting a lost cause.

“You communists should know what’s right. And what is the right thing to do? You don’t oppress your fellowmen; you don’t wage a war that you will never win. You are all bandits. You have no ideology. All communist countries — China and Russia — they are capitalists now,” Duterte said.

But Duterte still urged the rebels to surrender, promising them livelihood and shelter if they lay down their arms.

“For those who do not want war, those who understand what’s wrong and right, we will still welcome you,” Duterte said.

Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. said the government has long been reaching out to the NPA.

“President Duterte’s order is a standing one even before Covid-19 remember? We are giving them a chance through the localized peace engagement, but time is running out for them,” Parlade said.

Parlade explained that the call of the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) on nations to set aside fighting for the safe delivery and movement of Covid-19 vaccines does not apply to the NPA.

“So, the UNSC’s call for a vaccine ceasefire does not apply to them. It is referring to other rebel groups elsewhere who have belligerent status.”

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/03/07/news/national/troops-ordered-to-shoot-and-kill-reds/848093/