Duterte to Lumads: I’ll pay P20k for every NPA rebel you can kill
President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City as he holds a press conference on the reported abuses on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Kuwait on Feb. 9, 2018. Also in the photo are Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go and Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Facebook/PCOO
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday encouraged indigenous peoples (Lumads) to kill communist fighters, saying he would pay them P20,000 each for every rebel they can slay.
Duterte made the offer to Lumads days after suspected members of the New People’s Army, the communists’ armed-wing, reportedly shot dead a tribal chief and his son in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
He also made the remarks even as he previously threatened to bomb Lumad schools that he claimed were run by communists.
READ: Duterte threatens to bomb lumad schools
“If they (Lumads) want, if they are well trained enough, give me about three months, I will train them as CAFGU (Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit) and give them firearms and go out and hunt for those who killed their comrades,” Duterte told a press conference.
“If you got one NPA, I said also, I will pay you... I will make it 20,000 per head,” he added.
“Marami mang pera ang gobyerno. Kung magbayad kayo ng tax ninyo mas lalong marami ako (The government has a lot of money especially if you pay taxes).”
Duterte last November terminated peace talks with Maoist rebels amid continued hostilities while negotiations where ongoing.
READ: Duterte declares CPP-NPA as terrorist groups
The firebrand leader earlier warned that five NPA rebels will be murdered for every soldier slain by communist guerillas in response to the insurgents’ threat to kill one soldier a day until the government returns to the negotiating table.
Related video:
- Latest
- Trending
