By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte said that God will not allow the communist rebels to win over the government if they will continue to extort from people or destroy their properties if they choose not to give money to them.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte salutes one of the awardees during his visit to Camp Juan Ponce Sumuroy in Catarman, Northern Samar on October 2, 2018. (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte made the statement in his speech before rebel returnees at Camp Juan Ponce Sumuroy, Catarman, Samar Tuesday.
In his speech, Duterte said that the dream of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to establish their own government is something like a miracle.
"Alam mo para mong sinasabi, 'Hesukristo, bumaba ka dito sa harap ko at sabihin mo itong mga t****** taga-gobyerno na bigyan kami, bigyan nito (It's like asking Jesus Christ to descend from heaven and to tell us to give you power),'" he said.
"Hindi mangyayari ‘yan kailanman. Eh kailanman hindi bababa ‘yang Diyos na ‘yan, Hesukristo. At hindi rin mananalo kayo (That will not happen ever because Jesus Christ will never come down. You will also not win)," he added.
Duterte noted how the jobless communist rebels would kill people if they will not give them money after extorting them.
"Hingi ng pera kasi wala man kayong trabaho (You will extort money because you have no job). You thrive on other people’s sweat," he said.
"Ang kinakapital ninyo extortion tapos ang kapital na mabigay pawis niya. Tapos ‘pag hindi nakabayad, patayin (You depend on extorting money which came from their hardwork. And when they can't give you money, you kill them)," he added.
"Ngayon kung ganon trabaho mo, bibigyan ka kaya ng bendisyon ng Diyos manalo? Paano kayo manalo kung ganon ang style niyo (Now if that is your style, do you think God will bless you to win)?" he continued.
Duterte also said that the rebels have been fighting a worthless fight for the last 50 years, compromising their relationship with their own children.
"Ilang mga anak ngayon maliliit pa na wala ng tatay o wala ng nanay o wala ng tatay at nanay kasi namatay (How many kids have no parents because they died fighting for your cause)?" he said.
"I said 52 years ago. Mahabang panahon ‘yan adre, ma’am. Wala ka talagang makuha ‘yang prinsipyo-prinsipyo na ‘yan na --- anong klaseng prinsipyo (That's a long time. You get nothing from your principle. But what kind of principle)?" he added.
Duterte has appealed for members of the CPP-NPA-NDF to leave their cause and surrender to the government, promising them housing and livelihood.
Earlier, Duterte said that he does not think the peace talks with the Reds, which he cancelled almost a year ago, will be revived anytime soon.
The President had also blasted the rebels, comparing them to robots which obey only the words of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison for the last 50 years.