Duterte considering ceasefire with NPAs: I will think about it

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he would consider declaring a ceasefire with the New People's Army so Filipinos could celebrate Christmastime without stress.

"Look, if I declare a ceasefire, it is not addressed to the NPAs. Rather, I would want to celebrate Christmas with the rest of humankind or Filipinos na walang stress," he said in a media interview during his visit to the wake of Police Officer 3 Wilfredo Gueta.  

"Baka sabihin nila walang ceasefire ngayon baka magkaputukan then you put a lot of strain on the people. I will think about it. That would be my primary consideration," he added.

Duterte maintained that he doesn't really want to declare a ceasefire and still expressed his disdain for the communist rebels.

"I do not declare ceasefires anymore with anybody. ‘Yung ceasefire is a unilateral action of government to refrain from attacking. A lot of people are going around, even at night, enjoying Christmas day or whatever. Magsisimba," he said.

"I do not want to add more strain to what people are now suffering. ‘Yung kata— ng NPA. Sinong NPA dito? Halika nga," he added.

Duterte even said there are leftist journalists.

"Huwag kayo mahiya. Sino? T— ina ang ni sino sa inyo walang kamay ni isa. May alam ako mga journalists na Left talaga. O baka nagkadre doon sa Cordillera," he said.

Duterte on December 5 signed Proclamation Order No. 374 declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines and NPA as a terrorist organization.

He even recently likened the NPAs to the ISIS because both groups have no ideology but to kill and destroy. —KG, GMA News