President Rodrigo Duterte categorically declared Monday, July 24, that there will no longer be any peace negotiations with the communist rebels because of recent attacks that killed government troops and police officers.
“No more talks,” the President said in a press conference following his State of the Nation Address (Sona).
He warned that the communist rebels will be the government troops' next target as soon as the armed conflict in Marawi City ends.
“If they want war, just wait until Marawi. We can better deal with you (then),” he added.
Duterte also threatened to order troops and police to shoot left-wing protesters who commit civil disturbance "even if I have to bury thousands of Filipinos."
The tough-talking leader used his second Sona before Congress on Monday to explain his decision last week to scrap preliminary peace talks with communist rebel leaders in Europe as a result of the attacks, including one that wounded four presidential guards on July 19 in Arakan, North Cotabato.
"You in the left, I will not talk to you. Why should I?" he said, accusing the Maoist insurgents of insincerity. He also vented his anger toward a group of poor slum dwellers who took over a housing project intended for government security forces.
"You do anarchy, I will order the soldiers and the police to shoot. Even if I have to bury thousands of Filipinos. Do not do that to me," Duterte said. Some police officials in the audience applauded.
It's the latest discord that has hampered talks between the guerrillas and Duterte's administration. The communist rebellion has raged for 48 years, making it one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.
Several hours before Duterte delivered his second Sona, a soldier was killed during a gunfight between the the Philippine Army 76th Infantry Battalion and New People’s Army (NPA), armed wing of the communist rebels, in Barangay Cagsiay 2 in Mauban, Quezon.
Mauban chief of police Inspector Marianne Costas identified the fatality as Corporal Angel Joseph dela Cruz.
The firefight began 5:30 a.m. Monday and lasted 10 minutes. The rebels brought along their wounded companions as they retreated.
The pursuing military troops belonging to the Alpha Company of 76th IB found blood stains along the rebels’ escape route after the firefight.
The gunfight was the latest in a spate of rebel attacks that intensified after Duterte recommended the extension of martial law. Congress voted Saturday, July 22, to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of this year.
On July 19, the rebels set up a fake military detachment in Arakan, North Cotabato and figured in an encounter with a Presidential Security Group (PSG) convoy. A militiaman was killed while four PSG men were hurt. On the same day, two Marines were killed as NPA rebels attacked the soldiers in two areas.
On July 22, the rebels also burned the barracks and four heavy equipment of the RTY Construction in Lopez, Quezon.
On July 23, the detachment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Barangay San Antonio in Kalayaan, Laguna was also harassed by rebels with volleys of gunfire in a midnight attack.
In his Sona, the Chief Executive lamented the communists' insurgency but vowed that he would exert efforts in pursuing peace and order in the country.
He said he would arm the state forces to win the war against the communists.
"There has to be something. Maybe I can make use of what’s offered by a country – it’s a high-altitude plane. It can see the ground so before they leave the station anywhere, everywhere, they should study first the image from above. It cannot be reached by bullets,” Duterte said.
"There are two (planes) offered to me. I will accept that, even the drones that are high-altitudes for the patrolling of army or the police. I will prepare my armed forces because there's a war against the left," he added. (SunStar Philippines/AP)