AFP agrees with Duterte, says NPA a terror group

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday supported President Rodrigo Duterte view that the New People's Army (NPA) is a terrorist group.

"We totally agree with the Commander-in-Chief in calling the NPAs terrorists because it is clearly reflected in the numerous criminal/lawless/terrorist acts that they have been committing against defenseless and innocent civilians," Major General Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said in a statement.

Duterte said in Davao City on Saturday night that he is planning to issue a proclamation, branding the NPA as a terrorist organization.

The United States had tagged the communist group as a terrorist organization.

"I'll remove them from the category of a legal entity or at least a semi-movement which would merit our attention, placing them pareho sa amerika, terrorist," Duterte said.

The President also said that instead of rebellion charges, the cases that will be filed by the government against NPA members will be terror-related cases, inlcuding murder and arson with murder.

He said he is no longer inclined to revive peace talks with the communist group.

Padilla said the "government has done its part and negotiated with sincerity."

The military spokesperson said in a separate interview with radio dzBB that Duterte has lost his patience after the NPA continued its "economic sabotage" activities despite the government's efforts for a peace pact.

"Talagang nawalan na nang pasensiya ang ating mahal na Pangulo dahil simula sapul, nagsimula ang kanyang termino bilang commander in chief at bilang Presidente ang inuna niya na sinubukan niyang lutasin ay maayos sana ang problema natin sa CPP-NPA at itong NPA na armadong component nila ay isang bagay na kanyang pinagtuunan ng pansin at yang ay naging bunga ng kanyang unang state of the nation address nung siyay naganunsyo ng unilateral ceasefire," Padilla said.

Padilla said that there has been no progress even after a year of negotiations because the NPA "lacks sincerity."

He cited the NPA's torching of heavy equipment and extortion activities in parts of Mindanao while the peace talks were ongoing.

"Ang tingin namin dito eh nagpapatuloy itong economic sabotage na ginagawa ng grupong ito kaya't kung siya man po ay maaari niya nang irekomenda na tawagin na talagang terorista itong grupong ito," he said.

The President ordered the government's peace panel to halt talks with the communist group after the NPA's attack on a convoy of the Presidential Security Group in Cotabato last July. —ALG, GMA News