Duterte says communist leaders “just want to be comfortable,”

November 29, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday leaders of the communist rebels were not serious in the peace talks as they were just taking their time because they do not have successors and they just want to be comfortable.

In a speech in Pangasinan, Duterte said his office is preparing an executive order to declare the New People's Army as a terrorist group.

"I have terminated (the peace talks) with the NPAs, because I think that they are not really serious. Just biding their time. They do not have the second echelons to carry the fight and they just want to be comfortable," Duterte said.

Some known leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front are old and self-exiled in the Netherlands.

"I am preparing now, they (staff) are preparing the executive order declaring them to be terrorists and they will be afforded the treatment of being criminals," Duterte said.

But he said "there will be no filing of cases under the public security, like rebellion, because rebellion is considered sometimes a noble undertaking. It’s only because you want your country to do better."

Duterte reiterated he had given too much to soon to the demands of the Maoist group when the peace talks were still ongoing.

"And I know that the military were complaining. But I said, 'You know, my job is to seek peace with everybody. To attain peace for my country. You have to understand that'," he said.

But now, he said he has ordered the re-arrest of those rebel leaders who have been temporarily released due to the peace talks.

For the aging political prisoners whom he ordered released, Duterte said he made this for humane reasons and he did not see them as threats to national security anymore.

"For one, those who were above 70 like me, it's as if I was the one getting tired for them. Although the leaders, I said, 'You can go.' Anyway, they cannot go far. They cannot climb those mountains there. You will find them in the hospitals or room, taking a rest," he said.

"But I do not want to start a really violent war. But if the NPAs, just like the terrorists, would do it, then we will give them the favor. There will be no talks with the NPAs now," he added.

Duterte terminated the peace negotiations with the Maoist group due to the rebels' attacks against government troops and extortion activities. Celerina Monte/DMS