MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte challenged Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Ma. Sison to come home, saying he should not be staying in another country while his fighters are dying.
“If you are truly a revolutionary leader, my God, come home and fight here,” Duterte said on Thursday night during his visit to the wake of six policemen ambushed by communist rebels in Barangay Magsaysay, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental last July 21.
“All these years, you are in another country. A foreign government is spending money and feeding you while your men, the NPA (New People’s Army), are dying. You are a coward. What kind of a leader is that?” he added.
The 78-year-old Sison has been in exile in the Netherlands since 1987.
Duterte and Sison have been trading barbs since the government canceled the peace talks earlier this week.
The negotiations were called off after the CPP ordered its armed wing, the NPA, to attack government forces enforcing Duterte’s martial law proclamation in Mindanao.
Duterte also urged the lumads or indigenous peoples not to believe in Sison, whom he said is suffering from colon cancer. The rebel leader has denied Duterte’s claim.
“Yung litrato ni Sison, parang diyos sa inyo. Maniwala kayo sa bugok na yan (You look up to Sison as if he were a god. Do not believe that fool),” the President said.
“Magre-revolution tapos magtatago doon sa ibang lugar. Dito tayo. Umuwi ka. Ako ang magsalubong sa iyo (You waged a revolution and then hid in another place. Come here and I will be the one to meet you),” he added.
“I really do not want to answer that old man. Come here. Earn my respect.”
Despite his tirades, Duterte said he does not really want to wage war against fellow Filipinos, including communist rebels.
“If possible, I do not want to fight with them. I hope there is a way to solve this without killing fellow Filipinos. It really pains me to see dead NPAs or Moros, especially if they are my soldiers or policemen. It’s a crazy war,” he said.
“I used to be a friend of the NPA. I can play politics then when I was mayor. Now, I don’t have the luxury anymore,” he explained.
Duterte urged NPA members to surrender and assured them of livelihood and employment.
“I will turn you into soldiers. If you want, you can keep your firearms as souvenirs,” he said.
‘He can’t question my courage’
Sison shot back, saying nobody, not even Duterte, can question his courage.
“I do not have to prove again that I have the revolutionary will and courage to wage armed struggle against oppression,” Sison wrote on a Facebook post.
“I was an active part of the people’s war against the Marcos regime for nine years, 1969 to 1977 and then went to fascist prison for another nine years. I surpass the field record of many reactionary military officers who are in the field for a few years until they are assigned desk jobs and then retire at the age of 56,” he added.
Sison went into exile in the Netherlands after the dictatorial regime of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ended and he was freed by the first Aquino administration.
Sison also said Duterte cannot dictate his battles.
“At any rate, I choose the battlefield where I fight and the types of battles that I wage. These cannot be dictated by Duterte who hopes vainly that the US and European intelligence would tip him off as soon I leave the Netherlands for the Philippines,” he said.
“The way he continues to talk, he really hates to engage in peace negotiations with the NDF. At any rate, I must remind Duterte that we are well past the age of retirement in the NPA and AFP,” he added.
Sison said Duterte should allow the government panel to seriously negotiate with the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political and negotiating arm of the CPP.
The communist leader reminded the tough-talking President that he is no spring chicken himself.
“At his ripe old age of 72, he should not try to project an image of a strutting young fighter at my expense,” he said.
Sison also said that if the revolutionary movement deems his return necessary, he will do so to fight the Duterte puppet regime of US imperialism.
“That means surmounting my being in the same old age bracket as Duterte and evading the constant surveillance by the US, Dutch, European and Philippine reactionary intelligence agencies,” he added.
Duterte slams Casiño
Duterte also scored former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño for saying that he went on the stage of militant groups last Monday without permission. The President faced protesters after delivering his second State of the Nation Address last Monday.
He said militant party-list nominees also went on his stage while he was running for mayor of Davao City, where he served as local chief executive for 23 years.
“You assumed that we were friends and you went on stage. You did not even thank
me for allowing you to speak to the people,” the President said.
“Ikaw, Teddy, yung ulo mo sobrang laki (You, Teddy, you have become so arrogant). That is the problem with excess brain, it does not work at all. Do not be too proud. What is your contribution to our nation building? Nothing except death and destruction,” he added.
Duterte said communists have repeatedly tried but failed to win elections.
“You ran for office but did not win…You started it 50 years ago and you want another 50 years of killing Filipinos? My countrymen, that’s what the NPA wants. Another 50 yeas of killings,” he said.
6 slain cops awarded
After castigating Sison and Casiño, Duterte awarded the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (medal of valor) to the six policemen killed by the NPA when he visited the wake on Thursday night.
He also gave P500,000 each to the families of the fallen cops and promised the children scholarships and employment to the widows.
The policemen killed were SPO2 Nacasio Pasculado Tabilon, PO3 Teovic Gador Agosto, PO2 Alvin Paul Alquizola Bulandres, PO2 Alfredo Lastimoso Dunque, SPO1 Jesael Ancheta and P/Supt. Arnel Arpon.
The policemen were ambushed by around 60 members of the NPA as the cops responded to request by a city councilor for police assistance.
The police force suffered casualties because of overwhelming number and superior firepower of the communist guerrillas.
The local governments in Negros Oriental also condemned the attack.
The President proceeded to Dumaguete City to visit the policemen who were wounded during the attack by the insurgents.
Duterte checked on the condition of SPO4 Jerome Delara, PO3 Jordan Balderas and PO2 Jorie Maribao who are confined at the Silliman University Medical Center.
The President pinned on each injured police officer the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting (wounded personnel medal). They also received financial assistance from the President.
Don’t use ‘revolutionary tax’
Duterte also directed the military and the police not to use the term “revolutionary tax” in its reports as it is just a glorified term for extortion.
“I don’t deal with revolutionary tax. That’s plain extortion… I’m directing the armed forces and police not to use revolutionary tax. That’s not the proper word to adopt. This government has taxation,” he said.
The military said NPA members have been harassing businesses and politicians who refuse to pay revolutionary tax.
Duterte vowed to file charges against rebels involved in kidnapping, robbery, extortion and other crimes.
He also urged Congress to pass a National Security Code to enable the government to address armed threats.
“Only the enemies of the government are afraid of that,” he added.
With Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez, Gilbert Bayoran