Duterte: Pro-Reds bets’ poll victory dangerous

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte said on Tuesday it would be “dangerous” if candidates allied with the communists win in the May 9 elections.

During the joint meeting of the National Task Force and the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Butuan City, the President reiterated the reported coalition between party-list groups and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

“These party-lists paved the way for the communists. They are communists who entered the backdoor, the portals of government, to win a few seats there. And when elected they do nothing except to criticize the government,” Duterte said.

He also said the supposed coalition between the candidates in the upcoming polls and the CPP might force him to support a presidential bet.

“I said before I will not support any presidential candidate. But if there is a compelling reason to campaign or to endorse a particular candidate – not because of personal (reasons) – because I don’t want the communists to infiltrate the government,” he said.

Duterte earlier urged Filipinos not to vote for party-list groups that he claimed are supporting communist rebels who seek to overthrow the government.

He said the rebels have used the party-list system to infiltrate Congress and referred to them by the acronym KABAG, which means stomach pain in Filipino.

“So you won’t forget, remember the KABAG: Kabataan-K, Anakpawis-A, Bayan Muna-B, (Alliance) of Concerned Teachers- A and Gabriela,” Duterte said.