President says he is fed up with the rebels’ extortion and harassment activities

President Rodrigo Duterte called on the communist rebels to “lay off” the power and communication facilities and other vital public installations in the provinces to avoid punishing consumers with higher utility rates.

Duterte made the call as he expressed his impatience over the extortion-related attacks on businesses by the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines with whom the government is engaged in peace talks.

“Ang style kasi ng NPA, kapag hindi ka nagbigay, sunugin. Hoy, makinig kayo ha. Huwag ninyong pakialamanan iyong sa tao, energy, communications, everything. Lay off,” the president said at the inauguration of a hydroelectric power plant in Bukidnon on Friday, December 9.

“May I ask the New People’s Army. Huwag na ninyo ito hingian kasi kapag nagkuha kayo ng pera sa kanila, itong mga ito, magplano naman kung paano pataasin iyong electric [rates],” he added.

The president later joked that the NPA rebels should instead harass Metro Manila-based firms. “Punta kayo ng Maynila, tuturo ko iyong malalaking corporation. Akyatin ninyo.”

The communist rebels have reportedly extorted millions in so-called revolutionary taxes from local businesses and other sectors to fund their armed insurgency in recent years.

Even President Duterte previously claimed that the communist rebels thrive because of extorting money from businesses in the provinces.

In the same event, the president reiterated his call for the communist rebels to agree to an “indefinite ceasefire” pact with the government before he grants their demand for the freedom of political prisoners.

“I declined to do it because I have given so much too soon,” Duterte said.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, produce to me a document which says you have agreed to an indefinite ceasefire. Do not put a term, a timeline because this will be a long and winding road sa negotiations.”

He said the peace talks in Norway were just “preliminary,” adding the “real McCoy” will start when he talks face-to-face with the rebels.

Stressing the primacy of the government, he said: “It is always the interest of the government that should prevail.”

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Genalyn Kabiling

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