(Eagle News) — Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison said the “main targets” of the one-year extension of martial law by Congress are his group and the New People’s Army.
In a statement, Sison said, however, that “the (Duterte) regime overestimates the capability of (the CPP-NPA’s) total armed strength of 170,000 in an archipelago of 115,000 square miles.”
“It exaggerates the psychological impact of terror tactics under martial rule and the effectiveness of US indoctrination, training and equipment,” Sison said.
In his statement, the CPP founder called his former student, President Rodrigo Duterte, a “number 1 terrorist and butcher of the Filipino people” and a “puppet president of the US.”
He added the President was “made even weaker” with his alleged “total failure in his war on illegal drugs with the number of addicts rising from 1.8 million in the time of Aquino to more than 4 million now.”
Sison also noted that the extension of martial law was obtained from a “rubber stamp” Congress.
Congress voted overwhelmingly to extend martial law in Mindanao for one year.
This is the second time Congress voted to make such an extension.
The first time was on July 22, when the 60-day martial law first allowed by the Constitution lapsed.
Duterte first declared martial law in Mindanao after local terrorists overran Marawi in May.
Duterte has also officially terminated peace talks with the communists, and has branded the CPP-NPA as terrorists.