PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte told the military Thursday, September 22, to take full control and stop the paramilitary groups from operating in the rural areas saying this can undermine the on-going peace talks with the communist rebels.
"I would like to make an announcement, alam mo naman kasi itong war, some people in the rural areas are divided. Some have allied with the communists, becoming partisans, and some of the civilians, would join organizations that would beat against the communists," Duterte said.
Citing reports, Duterte said he noticed that the government has been backing the paramilitary units.
"I am now ordering the military to take full control itong mga Bagani command and this another group, I forgot the name. These paramilitary men operating especially with firearms issued by the government that would undermine the peace process," the President said.
"And of course it would also be a crime if we do not, especially yun couple na namatay sa Kitaotao, sa Surigao, mahinto na sana to because we are really trying our best to come up with a peaceful country," Duterte said.
"The communists have agreed to talk, so we are talking," Duterte added.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) spokesperson Wildon Barros lauded Duterte's announcement saying the group were now optimistic that justice would finally be brought to the families killed by the paramilitary men.
"Nagpasalamat kami ana ug hinaot nga ipatuman pud kining iyang order sa part sa mga military, sa 4th Infantry Division (ID). Labina ng nangbakwit karon nga mga lumad sa Bukidnon nga malinawon na ug makauli na sila sa ilang mga balay," Barros said.
Barros said among the military groups operating in Bukidnon were the Alamara group and the one led by Butchoy Salusad who remained a free man despite an arrest warrant for murder.
Barros said the Bagani command was occupying the rural areas of Surigao del Sur province.
"Sayod man kita nga ang mga paramilitary groups karon ang gasuporta ana is mga military so unta ipatuman gyud unta sa army ang giingon ni Digong," Barros added.
Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of Army's 4th ID said the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in general, does not tolerate or support civilian armed groups.
"The 4ID will continue to support the law enforcement operations being conducted by the Philippine National Police in order to protect the people and secure all their communities from any kinds of threats," Martinez said.