MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte would
be “obligated” to declare martial law if declare
martial law should communist rebels will continue their deadly attacks on state
troops with the country still in the middle of the battle against coronavirus
disease 2019.
Duterte’s threat came following several clashes between government forces and
the New People’s Army the past few days following the end of the unilateral
ceasefire last week.
“‘Pag nagpatuloy kayo (New People’s
Army) ng lawlessness ninyo, patay dito, patay doon, and it’s
happening all over the Philippines, maybe I will declare martial law,” Duterte
said in his recorded public address on Friday.
“Kayong mga NPA (New People’s Army) ang numero uno. Hinaharang ninyo iyong mga tulong para
sa mga tao, pati iyong supply ng
pagkain nila,” an incensed Duterte said.
He promised to ‘finish’ the communist group members before his terms ends in
two years as he tasked the Armed Forces of the Philippines to be ready.
“I am warning everybody and putting notice sa
armed forces and the police, I might declare martial law,” Duterte said. “Ang utos ko sa kanila, patayin kayo… Lahat na. Tapusin na natin ito sa panahon ko.”
“Pinagpapapatay niyo ang sundalo at pulis
na walang ginawa kundi
samahan ang nagdedeliver ng pera. Pagka inutos ko sa kanila, lahat
na, tapusin na natin ito sa panahon ko. Two more years. Magtago na kayo, putanginang legal front,” he added.
Interior secretary Eduardo Año,
meanwhile, said the Task Force to End Armed Conflict is ready to
follow Duterte’s order to finish off the communist group.
“Nagbigay na ng utos ang Pangulo na kailangang bantayan ang seguridad at
tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho ng Task Force to End Armed Conflict,” said Año during a
virtual press conference in Malacañang./PN
