Duterte meets with Army, Air Force officers in Malacañang

President Rodrigo Duterte met with officers of the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force at the Malacañang Golf Clubhouse on Tuesday night.

In a short message, Duterte lauded troops for their service to the public.

“Saludo ako sa ginawa ninyo. I’m not paying you. I know that you are not mercenaries,” he said.

“You do not do it for money. You do it out of passion, for the love of country, because we are all Filipinos and we know where to place ourselves when the time comes,” Duterte added.

The President also recalled that he used to negotiate with the New People's Army (NPA) for the release of captives during his time as mayor of Davao City.

“At times galing ako sa bukid, nakikiusap ako sa mga NPA. I’m not trying to really pull my own chair but ‘yung mga sundalo pati pulis na nabihag ng... Lahat ‘yan, ako ang kumukuha, pati si Bong [Go],” Duterte said.

He earlier offered a P2-million reward for killers of NPA commanders.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines previously said they neutralized four NPA leaders in a series of operations in Gingoog City and Agusan del Norte from May 10 to 13.  -- BAP, GMA News