Duterte: We’ll kill 5 NPAs for every soldier for every soldier killed

From Malaya Business Insight (Feb 9): Duterte: We’ll kill 5 NPAs for every soldier for every soldier killed

PRESIDENT Duterte has threatened to meet with more aggression a warning issued earlier this week by Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines, who said communist rebels could step up attacks and kill one soldier a day in each of the 17 regions to force government to resume the talks.

“Go ahead, kill one soldier a day. Does he think I cannot do it too? To the military, you kill five NPA rebels for every soldier killed,” Duterte said in Visayan during snacks he hosted in Malacañang Wednesday for at least 200 New People’s Army members who recently surrendered.

However, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday the President’s statement should not be taken literally.

“I think the message is, you don’t threaten us, Joma Sison. We are the state. If we haven’t eradicated you it’s because we opted not to eradicate you as Filipinos. But if you want war, we are ready to go to war,” Roque said.

He said it does not mean government is declaring an all-out war against the communists, but stressed government should not be bullied as it has all the resources to launch a fight against enemies of the state.

Duterte terminated peace talks with the communists in November last year due to continued NPA attacks on the police and military.

He later declared the CPP and NPA as terrorist groups.

The Army said it is recruiting some 8,000 soldiers this year to help in the military’s intensified campaign against communist rebels and other terrorist groups.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva said the number is 4,400 higher than the regular 3,600 annual quota for replacement of soldiers who are separated from the service.

“The higher quota is also due to the ongoing activation of 10 additional Army infantry battalions, which aims to further strengthen the Philippine Army’s capability, to be more responsive in addressing the various threats, particularly terrorism that besets the country,” said Villanueva.

Last year, the Army recruited 13,000 soldiers, including a “special quota” of 10,000 men whose recruitment was announced in the middle of the Marawi City siege.

Villanueva said the new recruits will be used in the fight against the NPA and ISIS-inspired groups like the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute Group.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/duterte-we%E2%80%99ll-kill-5-npas-every-soldier-every-soldier-killed