By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
PRESIDENT Duterte on Tuesday mocked the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA), saying it has been surviving because of “extortion.”
Duterte said this as he visited Camp Evangelista here where he awarded soldiers for their gallantry during a recent encounter with rebels in Valencia, Bukidnon.
“They survive because of extortion money” sourced from plantations and mining companies in Mindanao, Duterte said.
“Why they thrive here in Mindanao? Because of extortion,” said Duterte even as he called the CPP-NPA-NDF as a violent group.
He said the problem with communist rebels is that they want to seize power by force instead of through elections.
Duterte said this was the reason he had a change of mind and decided to withdraw his declaration of unilateral ceasefire.
He said the NPA did not respect and reciprocate the government’s efforts to resume peace negotiations. While there was a unilateral ceasefire, he said, the NPA continued offensives against government forces.
Duterte said he was angry because the NPA has continued the use of landmines against government troops.
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