Duterte: Reds taught me impunity

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte yesterday criticized the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and its allied organizations for attacking him and his administration following the cancellation of peace talks with the insurgents.

Duterte spewed invectives against the NPA and leftists who were protesting against his possible declaration of a revolutionary government.

He slammed the communists for espousing socialist revolution and yet condemning him for broaching the idea.

“You want revolution, OK…but if I am advocating revolution you are angry. You have predilection for violence and trouble. Oh, same here. So what’s the difference? You kill with impunity,” Duterte told the gathering for the 2016 Presidential Award for Child Friendly Municipalities and Cities in Malacañang yesterday.

Duterte condemned the rebels and their violent ways.

Duterte turned the tables on the NPA for its double talk on issues related to crime and impunity.

“You are accusing me of impunity. You started this and I merely followed,” Duterte said.

“I learned from you, when you ambush people as if you’re (slaying) pig(s),” he added.

Duterte cited the NPA attack in Mindanao recently where a four-month-old baby was among those killed.

“Just because the policemen were there, riding with the mother and the baby. How do you call that? If not impunity, was it that s**t?” he said.