PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday vowed to crush the communist rebels, saying he was not yet satisfied with the number of communist rebels who had surrendered.
In his speech during the time capsule-laying ceremony for the construction of villas for select soldiers in Mindanao, Duterte said he had no choice but to order the killing of more rebels since the communists were still killing soldiers and policemen.
He also said he was not inclined to resume the peace talks with the rebels any time soon.
“Not at this time. Alongside with the mass surrenders is also the ferocity of those fighting,” he said in an ambush interview following his speech.
Duterte made his statement even as the military on Thursday condemned the torching of a tractor by four suspected communist rebels in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Feb. 27.
“These communist-terrorists keep bragging that they are fighting for the people’s welfare, yet their actions contradict their words,” said Brig. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, commander of the Army’s Third Infantry Division.
He described the torching as “a barbaric act and a clear indication of economic sabotage,” and that the reason for it was probably extortion.
Authorities said the communists also torched a 10-wheeler truck used by farmers to haul sugarcane in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, on Feb. 22.
Duterte told the military to reconfigure its tactics since communist snipers were still able to find ways to target government forces.
He again lashed out at the communist leaders, saying they no longer had the same traction as due to their old age.
“I know most of them are getting old and sick. Their brains no longer work,” Duterte said.
He also said government forces would deal with the remaining Maute terrorists “harshly.”
“They can regroup anywhere and we can have a fight again to the last man,” Duterte said.
“We will not stop until the last terrorist is neutralized.”