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Communism no longer relevant: PRRD

By Allen Estabillo

June 14, 2019, 12:38 pm

<p>File photo of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. <em><strong>(PNA) </strong></em></p>

File photo of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. (PNA)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte appealed anew to the remaining members of the New People's Army (NPA) to surrender and lead normal lives, reiterating that the communist ideology is no longer relevant in the modern times.

In his speech on Thursday during the distribution of land titles here to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Region 12 (Soccsksargen), President Duterte said many countries have already turned their backs on communism and embraced a democratic path.

"There are no communist countries anymore, but the Philippines is letting itself be deceived," he said in Cebuano, pointing out that the communist ideology has long lost its relevance in the world stage.

Irrelevant

Duterte cited the case of China, a communist country by name that has since embraced capitalism and inspired the decades-old communist rebellion in the country.

He said China, whose rapid progress and development these past years mirror that of the Hong Kong special administrative region,  has a "market-driven, controlled economy."

"I just don’t understand you, communists. You have been fighting for a long time, 53 years in the making, yet you still haven’t successfully occupied a single barangay," he said.

'About to end'

"Whether you agree to it or not, you NPAs, the communists, you are about to end. You don’t have guns, you don’t have bullets, you don’t even have food. All you have are sores and you are being bitten by leeches," he added.

Much like the illegal drug menace, the President said the communist rebellion has contributed to social dysfunction, separating families and turning the Filipinos against each other.

Social dysfunction

"What I really don’t like is the social dysfunction in the whole Philippines. Just like drugs. There are many children who have not seen their own parents because their mom and dad have joined the armed movement," he noted.

Duterte recalled his anger when speaking to a couple who left their child to join the revolutionary movement for many years.

"I said, ‘The devil. It’s a good thing that you’re still alive, that your child still lived to see you. What if you died? The NPAs would have just buried you in the forest. What else have they got to offer? It’s a good thing you were still able to see your child’,” he said.

Stories of parents leaving their children after being lured by the NPA are prevalent all over the country, the President said.

The social dysfunction brought about by families torn by communist rebellion, the President said, is made worse by the rebels' extortion activities that often scare away people and businesses from developing their lands. This, in turn, he said, breeds more poverty in the countryside.
 
Commitment

Duterte said the government remains committed and ready to help NPA surrenderers get jobs, houses to live in, as well as sustainable livelihood, he said.

He added that former rebels may learn new skills through training courses offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

"I promise to provide you with a job and a house when you surrender to the government. I gave you food to eat and the opportunity to study at TESDA so that you can learn new skills. TESDA is a department that focuses on teaching you livelihood skills," he said.

He added: "To the NPAs, surrender. You will no longer be hungry and your children will be able to go to school. I will pay for it and I will even feed you," he said. "I would pay you if you surrender your gun. Surrender it."

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)

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