Duterte to form kill squad vs. NPA hitmen

President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he is planning to create a unit focused on crushing the New People’s Army's (NPA) assassination squad.

Lamenting the continued attacks on government troops, Duterte told soldiers at Camp Rajah Sikatuna in Carmen, Bohol that he "will match the talent" of NPA’s Special Partisan Unit, popularly called sparrow units targeting authorities and government officials, "for assassinating people."

"One of these days I'll be forced also to create my own Sparrow. Walang hanapin kundi mag-istambay na mga tao diyan, suspected NPAs, at bibirahin din sila...kung makakita kayo ng tatlo o apat na NPA na nakaupo lang, patayin ninyo agad," he said in a mix of English, Filipino and Cebuano.

"Ngayon ang kulang talaga is ang Sparrow ko rin. Diyan lang naman sila makalamang. Sa bukid fight man 'yan. Mag-create ako ng Sparrow. Duterte Death Squad against the Sparrow. Wala namang problema kasi kalaban naman natin sila," he added.

The President said he was "trying to make peace" with the communist rebels yet they continue to kill soldiers and policemen.

Duterte warned against the resurgence of the sparrow unit as early as March this year following the collapse of peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels.

He said soldiers should remain on guard against the infamous hit squad even if they are off-duty and in their homes.

The President also said at the time that he was eyeing former police officers formerly assigned in Mindanao to fight the allegedly revived NPA hit squad. —LDF, GMA News