Duterte orders mass arrest of Reds out on bail

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday ordered the newly promoted military officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to rearrest communist personalities  who are out on bail.

"For those who are out temporarily, you just maybe zero in now, because any day, I will order for their mass arrest. Wala akong magawa eh. Ginusto ninyo, I'm addressing them to the TV, ginusto ninyo eh," Duterte told the military officials.

"I gave too much too soon. I know iyong pulis, military, medyo may sentimiyento sa akin. You know, I release almost about 32," he added and mentioned the Tiamzon couple (Benito and Wilma).

Duterte told the military officials that the communists eventually want a coalition government, which is something he cannot give.

"They are now considered ordinary criminals," he said. 

In February, the government canceled the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

The JASIG, which was signed by the government of the Philippines and the NDF in February 1995, guarantees safety and immunity to negotiators, consultants, and other personnel joining the peace talks.

The JASIG termination came after Duterte terminated the peace talks with the communists and ordered the arrest of the NDF consultants who were released to join the peace talks. — RSJ, GMA News