Duterte on communists: Kaibigan kami | ABS-CBN

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Duterte on communists: Kaibigan kami

Duterte on communists: Kaibigan kami

ABS-CBN News

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Updated Aug 01, 2016 09:55 PM PHT

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President Rodrigo Duterte and Communist leader Jose Ma. Sison. Composite Image

MANILA - After being called "thuggish" and a bully by Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated Sunday that he is friends with Filipino Communists because they are against those who oppress the people.

Speaking before members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and their families on Sunday, the President said he offered to talk peace with every rebel group in the country so he could save lives.

"I am trying to save lives. I hit the ground running and offered peace to everybody, to the communists, to the [Moro Islamic Liberation Front]...I cannot go into [that] with the Abu Sayyaf. Those are the enemies that have to be destroyed," he said.

"We are spending billions and I hate to, you know, sign a paper nung mayor ako to buy bullets just to kill a Filipino," he said.

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Instead of condemning the CPP for not immediately reciprocating the government's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire, Duterte explained that he understands the communist rebellion because he comes from a poor background.

"Ito namang mga komunista, kaibigan kami. They are socialist but they are Communist Party of the Philippines. I am just socialist in my dimension kasi anak ako ng mahirap. I hate government and anyone oppressing the people," he said.

He cited as example the "tanim-bala" modus that targets poor Filipinos even as mayors, generals and Cabinet members can bring in "tons of jewels" without being stopped.

"That is the kind of government that eats into the core of our essence as a Filipino," he said.

Duterte appears to have had a falling-out with the Communist Party after he revoked a ceasefire with the rebels after the insurgents failed to reciprocate his declaration at the end of a 24-hour deadline on Saturday.

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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Toto Lozano, Malacanang Photo

Duterte issued the ultimatum after a government militia man was killed and four others were wounded in what the military said was an ambush by the NPA in the southern province of Compostela Valley last Wednesday. The rebels owned up to the attack, but said they were thwarting an Army offensive.

Sison later criticized Duterte as "volatile" for revoking a government ceasefire before leftist rebels could reciprocate the truce.

"Hindi pwedeng nag-uultimatum. Ang pinag-uusapan dito oras lang, araw. Kung lumamapas ng buwan, pwedeng may uminit ang ulo," he said.

"Mahirap makipagkasundo sa ganyang mga bigla-biglaan," he added.

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Despite recent developments, Sison said the resumption of formal peace talks in Oslo, Norway would push through as scheduled on August 20.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza issued a similar statement to ABS-CBN News. “Let's wait and see. But so far, as of the moment, there is no supervening factor that will affect the upcoming talks in Oslo on August 20."

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