Duterte to communists: Stop f****ng the government

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte warned communist rebels on Wednesday that the government would arrest their leaders on the peace panel if they fight alongside terrorist groups in Mindanao.

The president, speaking at the 119th anniversary of the Philippine Navy, told the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army , to stop f****** with the government as he told the Maoist group that their rebellion would lead to nowhere.

“If there is a breakdown of peace and order here [Mindanao] because of the participation of the communists in this war against the ISIS, kung gusto ninyo tumulong sa kabila magp****han na kayong lahat. But I am warning the leaders whom I have released and who are now talking to the representatives of my government: Do not attempt to come home. I will arrest all of you and throw you to the slammer,” the chief executive said.

Last week, the CPP ordered its fighters to step up its attacks against the government over a perception that the military rule Duterte declared in Mindanao was really meant to target the communists.

Silvestre Bello, the chief peace negotiator and Labor secretary, denied this and warned the communists about its statement, saying that it might be perceived as support for the terrorists in Mindanao.

The Maoist rebels shot back, even calling the presidential daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio who is the mayor of Davao City, a “mini-dictator” for the security measures she put in place in the city.

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines and political adviser Jose Ma. Sison have advised the CPP to recall its order for more attacks, but the party has yet to do so.

'You will be marginalized'

Duterte told the Maoist rebels, who have been waging one of the longest rebellions in the world, that their movement would not be able to topple the Philippine government.

He said that aside from the superior firepower of the Philippine military the “religious zealots” would not allow communism to establish a foothold in the country.

Duterte, who has called himself a "socialist" in the past, said last December that the "Reds" would be willing to die for him in case of any ouster attempts against him.

The president said Wednesday that if Islamist militants succeed, the communists would be marginalized.

“Bakit kung manalo ba ang ISIS dito sa Pilipinas may papel pa kayo sa mundong ito? Huwag tayo magbolahan. You will be marginalized and outcast because your form of government is always anathema to the rest of the religious zealots in this world. Ang Islam is fundamentally feudal because the Quran orders it to be so. Kayong mga komunista, you are just wasting your time. You cannot prevail over the government of the Republic of the Philippines,” he said.

'Communists seem insincere'

The president lamented that he had tried to engage the communists in peace talks, but it seemed that they had been insincere.

Duterte has given several seats in his Cabinet to progressives identified with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, which follows the national democratic line.

He has also openly invited the communists to talk peace with him. However, despite these gestures from the president, the rebels have continued to stage attacks on government security forces and businesses and to collect so-called “revolutionary taxes.”

The president even taunted CPP-NPA’s “bravado,” saying that it had not even held a village for more than 24 hours.

“For all their bravado, they have not occupied any barangay for more than 24 hours. And yet when they talk it’s all full of hubris. Akala mo sino,” he said.

Duterte placed Mindanao last week following clashes between Philippine security forces and fighters of the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf which has led to the deaths of 89 Islamist fighters, 21 soldiers and 19 civilians.