Duterte’s order: Shoot armed NPA members

SUAL, Pangasinan – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said that he has ordered his security forces to shoot at communist rebels bearing firearms, as he revealed that an executive order is being prepared to declare the New People's Army as a terrorist group.

At the send-off ceremony of the five Vietnamese fishermen at the wharf here, Duterte made another lengthy rant against the NPA, pointing out how the group had ambushed policemen and soldiers and extorted money from the people.

"So what will be my orders to the -- ? ‘Di shoot them. Eh they will kill you anyway. So if there is an armed NPA there or terrorists, if he’s holding any firearms, shoot. And tell any... ako na ang magsagot, you just shut up," he said.

"Do not answer if that issue of human rights, you say, 'Go to Duterte. It is and was his order.' Para tumahimik ka, sabihin mo. And so? You are destroying my country, you expect me to pat you in the back and say, 'Dahan-dahan ka lang?'" he added.

Duterte said that an order declaring the NPA as terrorists would mean that the rebels would be treated like criminals.

"I am preparing now. They are preparing the executive order declaring them to be terrorists and they will be afforded the treatment of being criminals," he said.

"There will be no filing of cases under the public security like rebellion because rebellion is considered sometimes a noble undertaking, it’s only because you want your country to do better," he added.

But Duterte indicated that the arrest or re-arrest of communists would not apply to those who were already let go because of old age.

"For one, those who were above 70 like me, parang ako na ang napapagod para sa kanila. Although leaders, sabi ko, 'You can go.' Anyway, they cannot go far. They cannot climb those mountains there. You will find them in... sa mga ospital o sa kwarto ‘yan nagpapahinga na," he said.

The President reiterated that his job was only to seek peace and not start a war.

"But if the NPAs, just like the terrorists, would do it, then we will give them the favor. There will be no talks with the NPAs now. And I told them, 'We have been fighting this war 50 years ago and they want another 50 years,'" he said. — MDM, GMA News