News Story: Duterte 'lowest of the low' over threat to bomb lumad schools, Reds say

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte

By Janvic Mateo

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is facing criticism over his threat to bomb indigenous schools supposedly being used by communists to influence the youth to rebel against the government.

In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines dubbed Duterte as “lowest of the low” for threatening to bomb schools.

“You are a madman with bombs. You are a bully. An arrogant street thug intoxicated with power. But you only pick on the weak, the small and the oppressed. You bomb their homes, shell their communities and expect them to bow to your power. You exercise power but only against the powerless,” the CPP said.

“But you are a weakling when faced with the powerful. You cannot even keep your word to stop the mining companies that poison and plunder the land. The NPA has done much more than you in defending the country’s patrimony,” it added, referring to the New People’s Army.

Eule Rico Bonganay, secretary-general of Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns, said the president’s remark poses a serious threat to schools in Mindanao.

“What could be worse than what can be taken as an open command from the chief executive with sheer impunity on the genocide of our indigenous people?” Bonganay said.

Read the full story at PhilStar