Progressive solons slam Duterte’s plan to create his own ‘sparrow unit’ vs. NPA

Progressive lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Wednesday condemned President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to create his own sparrow unit to crush the New People’s Army's assassination squad.

In a press conference, ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said Duterte's plan only encourages civilians to kill their fellow civilians.

"Malinaw na tahasang paghikayat ito ng pangulo ng Pilipinas sa mga sibilyan na pumatay ng kapwa Pilipino nang walang pagsasaalang-alang sa karapatan sa buhay at karapatan sa due process na ginagarantiya ng Konstitusyon at pangunahing tungkulin ni Duterte na itaguyod," he said.

In a speech in Carmen, Bohol, Duterte said 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.

Tinio said that with such a pronouncement, Duterte is clearly verbally pushing for the creation of a "death squad" amid allegations that he was involved in the notorious "Davao Death Squad."

"Si Pangulong Duterte na mismo, sa bibig niya mismo nanggaling na bubuo siya ng death squad na nakapangalan sa kanya. Ganyan katindi yung tingin ni Pangulong Duterte, sa pagiging above the law," he said.

'Unacceptable'

For his part, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate said the President should not be encouraging citizens to be participating in vigilante justice.

"Talagang hindi katangga-tanggap 'yan kahit na sa usapin ng karapatang pantao," he said.

"Itong ganitong mga pronouncement, we are expecting in the coming days, maraming mabubuwal na mga kababayan natin dahil lang sa pinaghinalaan silang mga rebelde," he added.

Zarate pointed out that such a policy would not be not the solution to the decades-old rebellion in the country.

"Kaya patuloy nating tinutulak na bumalik sa negotiating table ang gobyerno at ang National Democratic Front of the Philippines, especially na meron nang mga breakthroughs," he said. — BM/BAP, GMA News