(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 30, said New People’s Army rebels were only “fighting for a bankrupt mind” in the person of Jose Maria Sison, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair.
“Not even an ideology. There is actually none at all. You are fighting for a bankrupt mind. Isang tao lang nag iisip. There is only one person using his goddamn gray matter between his ears. Para kayong robot kung ano ‘yung inuutos,” Duterte said.
He then urged them to stop their activities, and to trust the government.
He said he himself listened to and believed Sison many years ago.
“But you know there is always a time to reflect and review what we have in this life. Hindi madali ito. It’s not revolution. To revolutionize to develop, it ain’t really the way,” he said.
Peace talks were supposed to resume in June but the government suspended this, citing the need to conduct a public consultation beforehand.
The Communist rebels slammed the government for what they said was its lack of sincerity, with Sison at one point saying they should not hold talks with President Rodrigo Duterte at the helm of government.
He later clarified he could only make a recommendation.
The government has said that while it was open to resuming the negotiations, localized peace talks would push through.
But Communist leaders have said they would not participate in such.