President Duterte has ordered the strict government control of the sale and use of explosives in mining operations to prevent these items from falling into the hands of communist rebels.

The President said any sale and use of the mining explosives must have the clearance of the police as well as the military assigned in the area. The commander-in-chief sought the tighter supervision on such explosive use after raising concern that communist rebels have used these items in their attacks against government troops.

“I'm going to direct the DILG, nandito si Sec. Año. 'Yung mga IED ng mga komunista, ipasok ko na lang lahat. 'Yung IED ninyo san kinukuha yan? Sige nga. Where do you get your explosives, powder? Karamihan diyan galing sa mina (I'm going to direct the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Secretary (Eduardo) Año is here. Where do the rebels get their improvised explosive device? Where do you get your explosives, powder? Most of them come from mining),” he said in a televised public address Monday.

“So that may double check tayo ngayon (So we will have a double check from now on). It must be cleared by the police, supervised strictly, and then when you go to the area, go to the commanding officer of the military there and let them you know that you have bought these explosives para pag ginamit ninyo yan, mabantayan (so when you use them, it can be monitored),” he added.

The President said the government wanted to know how many of the explosives are sold and used by these mining companies. He lamented that many soldiers and policemen have been killed due to the explosives detonated by communist rebels.

“You can buy one, but most of them are ... Nagdududa kami sa gobyerno na ginagamit sa sundalo ko (The government have doubts. These are being used against my soldiers),” he said.

“Itong pabili ng (The sale of) explosives, dynamites must be controlled. Talagang higpitan ni General Año and the commanding office of the area sa military must be informed so that he would know how to check,” he added.

Duterte also resented that the rebels even have the gall to justify the use of explosives against the troops.

“When the communists use it, they justify it. You go into rigmarole... When you use it, it's okay. You use it to kill military men, government personnel, police, okay,” he said.

Duterte said he would like to use landmine against the rebels but “the government cannot violate the law.” “Kayo? Wala man kayong pakialam są law (You? You don't care about the law),” he said.

Back in 2018, the President directed the environment authorities to revoke licenses of mining firms that supply explosives to communist rebel group.

Military and police found violating the country’s laws on explosives would also face expulsion, the Palace said then.