VP hopeful on ‘devil’ NPA’s demise

VICE President Sara Duterte is hopeful that the Philippines will be freed from the shackles of the communist group New People’s Army (NPA), which she referred to as “devils.”

This comes after Davao City commemorated its one year after it had been announced as “insurgency-free,” which Duterte attended in ceremonies at Rizal Park, Davao City.

In her speech, Duterte, a mayor of Davao City before she was elected vice president, said that a year ago, Dabawenyos “claimed their freedom” from a group that has “perpetuated a cycle of violence that trapped many poor Filipino families, especially those living in the countryside such as our Lumad brothers and sisters.”

She said that “New People’s Army” are the three words that she once avoided mentioning, as she does not want to dignify its presence or acknowledge its terror acts for more than 50 years.

“But I realized that we needed to speak of the devil. But speak of the devil not with fear but with the resolve, the bravery, the tenacity of real patriots determined to defend our fellow Filipinos, particularly our children, and our homeland... We needed to speak of the devil if only to defeat the devil. And we did,” Duterte said.

Duterte said the implementation of Peace 911 in the city, particularly in Paquibato District which is a stronghold of the NPA, allowed the people to be given the opportunity to be productive through livelihood programs that enabled citizens to discover new skills and capacitate women.

She said that Peace 911 transformed the far-flung community of Paquibato and allowed its residents to “unmask their enemies.”

“Terrorism is a dangerous enemy. The NPA, for one, does not care if you are a member of the military, police or civilian body,” Duterte said.

The anti-insurgency program in Paquibato and the entire Davao City, Duterte said, should remind Filipinos that it must dismantle several factors and tear away forces that lure Filipinos, especially children, to enemies.

“Filipino parents must have the values and capacity to protect their children from these forces, ensuring that they grow into individuals with the knowledge, skills and competency needed for them to realize their dreams,” Duterte said.

She said the Department of Education is working hard with the institutionalization of a “national peace curriculum” which will teach children the value of peace as they build their skills and learn more about conflict resolution and non-violence.

“Education, as we know, harbors power that could change the course of our lives and that of our fellowmen. It is a tool that can emancipate us from poverty or injustice. It is also a powerful tool for peace-building and combating terrorism,” Duterte said.

Duterte said she is hopeful that one day, the country will wake up to the news that the entire country is NPA terrorist-free.

“The NPA’s so-called protracted war is ending. The guerrilla warfare tactic is no longer working for them to be able to breathe life into a dying movement. The stench of its doom and imminent demise is repulsive, but something that we anticipate with most profound excitement,” Duterte said.