DAVAO CITY--Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte has thrown his support to the proclamation of the New People’s Army (NPA), as a terror group, characterizing their activities as acts terrorism.
“Tama lang. Dapat nga matagal nang dineklara na terorista ang NPA dahil sa mahabang record nito ng pandarahas, pagpatay, at pagpapahirap sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga mahihirap na magsasaka at lumad (It’s just right. The NPA should have been declared terrorist long time ago with its long record of harassment, killing, and the suffering it gave to our compatriots especially the poor farmers and lumads),” Vice Mayor Duterte said in a press statement.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has yet to release an official statement on the matter although in an earlier interview, the mayor said she would consult the Davao City Local Peace Committee (DC Peace) regarding the matter.
Duterte-Carpio has been pushing for localized peace negotiations with the NPA.
Paolo said the NPA activities are no different to the Abu Sayyaf bandits and the Maute terror group.
The vice mayor recalled the death of a four-month old baby when the NPA rebels attack a convoy of vehicles in Bukidnon last month.
He also lambasted leftist organizations for their supposed silence on NPA's atrocities.
“Sa mga naniniwala na may prinsipyo ang NPA, totoo naman na meron. Pero isa itong baluktot na prinsipyo na para lang sa pansariling interest ng kanilang mga lider (Those who believed that the NPA has an ideology, it’s true it has. But it is a twisted ideology for personal interest of its leaders),” he stressed.
Paolo cited the alleged extortion activities victimizing mining companies.
“Kung ayaw magbigay sinunusunog nila ang mga gamit ng mina (If they refuse to give they burn the mining equipment),” he said, referring to several instances of NPA attacks against mining companies for failure to pay the so-called revolutionary tax.
"The money just go to the pockets of the leaders and not even the lumads,” Paolo added, even as he branded NPA rebels as "spoiled brats."
On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 374 declaring the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization under Republic Act 10168, or the Human Security Act.
Citing RA 10168, the President said it is the policy of the state to "protect life, liberty, and property from acts of terrorism, to condemn terrorism and those who support and finance it and to recognize it as inimical and dangerous to the national security of the country and the welfare of the people, and to make financing of terrorism a crime against the Filipino people, against humanity, and against the law of nations."
In the proclamation released by Malacanan on Wednesday, Duterte also ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to publish the designation of the CPP-NPA and all other designated persons/organizations in accordance with the provisions of RA 10168. (Lilian C. Mellejor/NPA)
