DAVAO City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said that he supports the move of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s declaration of the New People's Army (NPA) as terrorists.
“Tama lang (It is but right)," the vice mayor said.
He said that the declaration should have been done years ago given the record of the NPA in harassing, killing, and oppressing the poor farmers and indigenous people.
“Kailan lang, isang bata ang namatay dahil sa ginawang ambush ng teroristang grupo na ito sa Bukidnon. Ang edad ng batang babae ay four months old lang," he said.
Duterte, however, said that the NPA has cause and advocacy, but it is crooked and only serves the personal interest of their leaders.
He said that the NPA is not even anti-mining but they ask millions from mining companies, and if not given to them, they burn mining equipment. “Saan napupunta ang pera? Sa mga Lumad ba? Siyempre hindi. Napupunta ito sa mga bulsa ng mga lider nila, (sila) ang nagpapakasarap at nagpapakasasa,” he said.
Duterte also blamed the NPA for the slow development of the country as the people had been allowing NPA to threaten them.
“Halos 50 years nang naghihirap ang bansa dahil sa kanila. Kasi tinuturing silang baby noon. Mga spoiled brats,” Duterte said.
He added that there is no difference between Maute and Abu Sayaff.
“Pareho silang mga salot sa lipunan at hayok sap era at dugo at gusto lang pahirapan ang bansa at ang mga Pinoy,” he said.
He added that the public must cease calling NPA as rebel group and start calling them as they are – terrorists.