Duterte likely to be ousted, won't finish term —CPP

The Communist Party of the Philippines on Saturday cast doubt that President Rodrigo Duterte will finish his term.

"In less than two years, he has become isolated domestically and internationally. Thus, there is high probability that Duterte will not be able to complete his six-year term of office and will be forced out of Malacañang by way of a surge in anti-fascist protest actions or some other means," the CPP said in a statement sent to reporters on the day Duterte marks his second year in office.

"Far weaker than the Marcos dictatorship, the US-Duterte regime will likely be ousted in a shorter period of time,” the CPP warned.

The party said the clamor for the President's ouster has been growing daily throughout the country due to his administration's "hostile moves."

“Everyday, the clamor for his ouster grows loud and reverberates across the country. In his drive to accelerate his bureaucrat capitalist plunder and establish his autocratic rule, his regime has exercised hostile moves that subjected the Filipino people to deepening crisis and oppression,” the CPP stressed.

It cited the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, war on drugs, anti-tambay operations, and counterinsurgency operation as among the ways Duterte has antagonized society.

“His regime has attacked the people in almost every level possible. He has alienated himself from the Filipino people, not only with his killing campaign, but also with his corruption in government contracts for infrastructure projects; his refusal to heed the demand of workers for wage increases and to end contractualization; his use of police force to suppress workers strikes; his contempt for millions of homeless people and threats of violence against them; his indifference to the plight of hundreds of thousands of jeepney drivers; his narcissism and misogyny; his bigotry against the religious; his war of destruction in Marawi and the continuing military offensives against the Moro people to seize control and establish dominance over the Bangsamoro; and so on,” the CPP said.

South China Sea dispute

The communist group also scored the Duterte administration for its stance on the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) dispute with China.

"Duterte is hated by the Filipino people for pulling down the country's national dignity to the lowest levels amid the saber-rattling of the world military giants in the country's maritime territory and claimed areas," it said.

The CPP cited China's military facilities which it said Duterte allowed to have been built.

It also said the US military was allowed to "strengthen its foothold" in the country with facilities in Palawan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Cagayan de Oro and others "for prepositioning and stockpiling of weapons."

"With every exercise of absolute power, he invites hostility and incites more people to resist his heightening autocratic rule and plans to impose nationwide martial law and establish a fascist dictatorship. In the face of all these, the Filipino people are increasingly determined to push for Duterte's resignation or removal by any means, at the soonest possible time,” the CPP said.

On Thursday, CPP founder and National Democratic Front of the Philippines chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison said the communist movement would be better off working for Duterte's ouster and preparing for peace talks with the next administration.

He said the movement to remove Duterte from power was growing and had become strong enough to eventually oust the President.

Threat belittled

Duterte however on Thursday belittled Sison's ouster threat and suggested to just watch the alleged sex video of staunch critic, Senator Leila De Lima. 

"Sinong forces magsali sa kanya? Sige daw. Si De Lima? Nako Ginoo ko [Diyos ko], manood na lang kayo ng x-rated niya. Malingaw pa mo [matutuwa pa kayo]," the President said.

Duterte reiterated that his job is to "seek" and "find the peace for my country."

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday rebuked Sison, stressing that while many peace talks have failed in the past, "no rebel group has ever come close to succeeding in ousting a sitting President."

"There have been peace talks after another that have failed in the past. And every each time, they were trying to oust the President—but never came close enough to at least unsettle a commander in chief," Arevalo said.

He added that members of the outlawed New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the CPP, continue to "surrender in droves."

Sison on Friday clarified that there is no decision yet to terminate peace negotiations with the government.

The formal resumption of peace talks was meant to proceed on June 28 in Norway, but fell through because Duterte said that he needed more time and more consultations before resuming the talks.

A stand-down agreement was signed on June 8 and was supposed to take effect on June 21, a week before the opening of formal talks. —KG, GMA News