An armed NPA rebel won’t surrender, Palace tells Robredo

An armed member of the New People’s Army will not surrender to the authorities, Malacañang tells Vice President Leni Robredo and other critics of President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to shoot armed communist rebels.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in a text message to reporters reiterated that an armed NPA fighter was a proper military target since armed rebellion is a crime.

“I assure you, no armed NPA will surrender to authorities. The options are to shoot at an armed rebel or for our men in uniform to be shot at by them,” he said.

Roque was responding to Robredo and other critics who said that Duterte’s order to shoot armed NPA fighters went against the rule of law and the Constitution.

Duterte made the order days after he signed Proclamation No. 360 terminating the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front. —NB, GMA News