Duterte declares all-out war vs. communist rebels

President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to mobilize state forces to go all-out against the communist rebels.

“Yes," he said when asked if this meant he has declared an all-out war against the communists.

"Walang hintuan. Magpalit-palit ang mga batallion. ‘Yung walang masyadong gamit, walang masyadong kalaban…’dun naman sa kabila,” Duterte said.

“Pag weary na [ang mga sundalo], magpalit na naman [ng tao]. Tuloy-tuloy,” he added.

The President reiterated his commitment to eradicate the communists within his term which ends on June 30, 2022

“Hindi ako magtatanggap ng surrender,” Duterte said.

“Basta ang sabi ko sa kanila [na militar], do your duty according to law. I will take responsibility,” Duterte said. “Ako na mag-safety sa kanila. I will take full responsibility."

In November 2017 through Proclamation 360, the president terminated the peace talks with the communist rebels.

Proclamation 360 stated that the peace negotiations were terminated because “despite the best efforts of the administration, the communists failed to show sincerity and commitment in pursuing genuine and meaningful peace negotiations as it engaged in acts of violence and hostilities, endangering the lives and properties of innocent people.”

Earlier, a Manila court ordered the arrest of Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison for a 1985 case involving the alleged purging of their comrades.

The Duterte administration said it has coordinated with the Interpol for Sison's arrest, a move mocked by the communist leader as ignorance of the law.

Sison, who lives in exile in The Netherlands, said he is protected by the said country as a political refugee.—LDF, GMA News