Sara Duterte: NPA not deserving of human rights

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  —   Presidential daughter and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio accused communist rebels of being terrorists who do not deserve protection of their human rights.

Duterte-Carpio earlier asked her father President Duterte to reconsider his decision to resume talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), pointing out the series of atrocities committed by the leftist guerrillas.

“I believe the insurgency problem can only be ended peacefully if the NDF and the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, are sincere, honest and committed to working toward the direction of peace and reciprocate the gesture offered by the government,” Duterte-Carpio said over the weekend.  

Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, however, called on the presidential daughter to follow the government’s decision to resume peace talks with the rebels.

“While it is disappointing that the Davao chief executive changed tune on her stance on the peace talks, we likewise urge her to investigate the military in its involvement on reported human rights violation against peasants and lumads. The recent International Fact Finding and Solidarity Mission in Mindanao confirmed cases of rights violation committed by the military against peasant and lumad communities,” Casilao said. 

Duterte-Carpio answered back by claiming Casilao is playing the political propaganda playbook of the communists. 

“Mr. Ariel Casilao’s comment on my opinion on the resumption of the peace talks is telling of how the representative of Anakpawis has designated himself as the mouthpiece and the attack dog of the groups responsible for a long list of terroristic activities against the people and the state over the past 40 years,” she said.

Duterte-Carpio said Casilao is an “aberration” in government. 

She said Casilao should be expelled from the House of Representatives.

“Instead of working to help the workers and farmers he is supposed to represent in Congress, Casilao is now serving as the representative of the terrorists. His colleagues in the House of Representatives should expel him,” she said. 

“And if it is the desire of Casilao to continue attacking the government, which he is supposed to be a part of, he should resign and join his brother in the communist movement,” Duterte-Carpio added.

The mayor said she doesn’t need to follow the military when she came up with her position.–  With Gilbert Bayoran