PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte once again raised the reward money for the capture and death of the killers of four police officers in Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
The prize is now P6 million, Duterte announced before the newly-promoted star rank officers of the Philippine National Police.
"Itong NPA, galit ako dito. Gusto kong malaman kung sila na ba. Eh kung hindi pa sila, dadagdagan ko pa ng isang milyon. So at this time, it is P6 million," the President said in a speech delivered at Palace's Rizal Hall Thursday, August 8.
(I am mad at the NPA. I want to know who the suspects are. I will offer additional P1 million for the capture of the killers. So at this time, it is P6 million.)
"Irrespective (of) police o civilian, kung sino ang maka-tiklo diyan, P6 million na iyan. Kung dalhin mo ang ulo dito sa harap ko, huwag mong dalhin iyang ano ke mabaho na iyang p***** i** na iyan. Yung ulo lagyan mo na lang ng dry ice. Dito, ipakita mo sa akin sa media. Give to me his head. As of now, it's P6 million," he added.
(Irrespective of police officer or civilian who will kill the culprits, I will give you P6 million. Bring to me the head, not the body because son of a b****, it would emit a foul odor. Use dry ice to preserve the decapitated head. Show it to the media. Give to me his head. As of now, it's P6 million.)
Four police officers were allegedly executed by suspected members of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in front of villagers in Barangay Mabato in Ayungon, Negros Oriental on July 18, 2019.
The slain cops were Police Corporal Relebert Beronio and Patrolmen Raffy Callao, Roel Cabellon, and Marquino de Leon.
The President initially set the reward money at P1 million, but raised it to P1.3 million during his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 22.
He raised it again to P3 million during his meeting with local chief executives on July 25, and later to P5 million on July 31.
Duterte, in his latest speech, said the reward would continue to go up until it reaches P50 million.
He also dared the communists to "kill" those behind the brutal killings of the four Negros police officers in exchange for a comfortable life.
"Kasi paabutin ko ng P30, P50 million iyan. Pagdating ng P50 million, oh sige maski sinong lider diyan, patayin ninyo, ibigay ninyo ang ulo (It could go up to P30 million, P50 million. When it reaches P50 million, you can bring the decapitated head of any leader). I will give you P50 million," Duterte said.
"Patayin niyo muna yung mga lider ninyo, gusto niyo may bahay pa kayo (To communist rebels, kill your leaders, and I can even give you a house)," he added.
Duterte noted that communist leaders have been pushing for the resumption of peace negotiations.
Duterte said National Democratic Front (NDF) negotiating panel chair Fidel Agcaoili and NDF leader Luis Jalandoni expressed anew their plan to return home to revive the stalled peace talks.
"I don't know but they are insisting on resuming the talks. And 'yung iba (Some of the communist leaders), I will not mention the name, they want to come home to talk. Okay lang (It's okay)," he said.
"Two of them, as a matter of fact, Si Jalandoni pati si Agcaoili (they are Jalandoni and Agcaoili). Si Agcaoili naman, abugado. Si Jalandoni, ideologue (Agcaoili is a lawyer, while Jalandoni is an ideologue). [They want to return home]. It's because of that four policemen," Duterte added.
Duterte terminated the negotiations in November 2017, following the NPA's series of attacks against the government forces.
The killing of the four policemen set off a wave of killings across Negros Oriental. From July 23 to 27, 2019, 13 more individuals were killed, including those suspected of supporting the communist movement. (SunStar Philippines)