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| New Peoples Army (NPA) "Soldiers" |
By Christina Mendez
MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte belittled the claims of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels that it has regained its strength following attacks against military personnel in the countryside.
“Even if we have to fight each other for another one hundred years, they cannot occupy and control one barangay. They cannot even capture one barangay, that’s the truth,” he said.
Duterte expressed anew his frustrations at the failure of the NPA leadership to control its fighters.
Duterte recently met suspected NPA leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon and Fidel Agcaoili, chairman of the National Democratic Front (NDF), in Malacañang.
During the meeting with the President, they admitted having no control over their fighters in the countryside.
Speaking at the 25th defense and firearms show of the Association of Firearms Ammunition Dealers at SMX convention center in Davao City the other night, Duterte reiterated that the communist leaders have no further chance of attaining peace if they would not settle the matter under his six-year term.
Read the full story at PhilStar