The Philippine military has vowed to hunt down communist rebels as the government has declared an all-out war against the New People’s Army, according to The Manila Times Online on Wednesday.
Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana said on Tuesday that the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is no different from the Abu Sayyaf group because its members also extort money from businessmen.
“We will hunt them down and maybe stop them from doing what they are doing,” said Lorenzana. However, he clarified that the war declaration only covers the CPP’s armed component.
The defence minister said the armed forces of the Philippines had prepared for armed conflict following periods of skirmishes with the rebels particularly in Mindanao and Mindoro.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier called the communists “spoiled brats” after he scrapped the government’s peace talks with the rebel group.
On Tuesday, he gave authorities a free hand to rearrest communist leaders on bail after the government withdrew the immunity guarantee for those participating in the peace negotiations.