Duterte recalls time as NPA hostage

From the Business World (Mar 25): Duterte recalls time as NPA hostage
before fresh batch of police force

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte, speaking before a fresh batch of the police force on Friday, claimed he was once held “hostage” by the New People’s Army (NPA) -- the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) -- for prosecuting communist fighters.

In his speech during the 38^th commencement exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) class of 2017, Mr. Duterte recalled how he was nabbed by the NPA’s “kangaroo court,” the underground justice system known for sentencing to death many members they had suspected as government spies.

“I was once upon a time a hostage ng NPA at tinutukan ako ng baril na M-14 sa ulo (and I was held at gunpoint),” Mr. Duterte, a former prosecutor, said.

The communists, which projects itself as a sovereign entity, refers to its hostages as “prisoners of war.”

“Pero (But) let the world know...That you killed me because I was doing the prosecution work against your comrades,” the President then recalled telling the armed rebels.

He added to his audience of new police officers: “Hindi tinuloy ng mga gago. Eh di ngayon, magpunta ako doon, sila pa magluto, sila pa mag-guwardiya sa akin. Eh ganon lang ang buhay.” (The fools did not carry out my sentence. So now, when I go there, they even cook for me and provide security. That’s life.)

Also attending the PNPA ceremony was Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo. Ismael D. Sueño, Mr. Duterte’s interior secretary, was supposed to be seated between her and Mr. Duterte, but offered his seat to Ms. Robredo who exchanged pleasantries with Mr. Duterte.

Early this month, the Philippine government and communist rebels have agreed to return to the negotiating table in April and reinstate their respective unilateral cease-fire.

Mr. Duterte, who describes himself as a socialist, launched the peace process soon after he took office in June last year in a bid to end nearly five decades of insurgency. He appointed three leftists to his Cabinet.

But the talks have been stalled time and again. This time, Mr. Duterte had imposed some tough conditions for the continuation of the talks, including an end to the collection of the revolutionary tax.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=duterte-recalls-time-as-npa-hostagebr-before-fresh-batch-of-police-force&id=142726