Duterte: Communist insurgency a ‘failed dream’

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday dismissed the communist rebellion in the country as a “failed dream” as he belittled anew the capability of the rebels to overthrow the government.

Duterte, in a speech in Pasay City, said the communists, who have been waging a five-decade rebellion, cannot even occupy a single barangay.

The President, however, admitted he was holding back from using military might to crush the rebels.

“Napakarami kong helicopter, sabi ko huwag muna,” he said. “Linisan mo ‘yang buong gubat, plantsahin mo ‘yan ng bala. Nagho-hold lang talaga [ako].”

“But they can be an irritation...[huwag kayo] maniwala diyan sa ano [communist rebellion] It’s a failed dream.”

Duterte also said he is leaving a “small window” of opportunity for peace talks.

“It may or may not be of use to us. Just in case you want to resume, at least there is a window where we can use,” he said.

Peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels bogged down in November last year after Duterte lamented the continued attacks by the rebels on troops and civilians.

The President has set out a new strategy in addressing the decades-old communist insurgency as provided under Executive Order 70, which he signed on December 4 last year.

The EO provides that the whole-of-nation approach aims to address the root causes of insurgencies, disturbances and tensions such as poverty, historical injustice, social inequality and lack of inclusivity. — BAP, GMA News