By Genalyn Kabiling
The government is winning the war against communist insurgents, President Duterte said following the arrest of another communist leader in Bukidnon.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (RENE LUMAWAG/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
The President has commended the troops for arresting Elizalde Cañete, also known as Ka Jinggoy, in a hospital raid in Bukidnon last weekend.
Duterte claimed that Cañete is the known successor of Leoncio Pitao, alias Commander Parago, who was killed in an encounter in 2015.
"I’d like to congratulate the military for --- Nahuli man daw nila si Jinggoy . Jinggoy was the successor of Parago," Duterte said during the inauguration of a bridge project in Davao City.
"He has six wounds. May anting-anting gyud ang y***. But he was captured because he was wounded. So the military is quite good in --- we’re winning the war actually," he added.
Cañete was reportedly injured in a recent firefight with government troops. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment of his gunshot wounds.
The rebel group, however, denounced the military arrest of Cañete while getting treatment at the hospital, saying it violated international humanitarian laws that protect injured persons in armed conflict.
The President, meantime, reaffirmed the government's willingness to resume the peace talks with the communist rebel group, citing a two-month window to reach an agreement.
He also promised safe passage to communist leader Jose Maria Sison when he returns to the country for the peace negotiations.
"I have invited Sison to come home. He has agreed. I gave him a window of two months, very small. Make or break tayo dito," he said.
"I will see to it and will personally maybe escort him to the airport ‘pag walang nangyari sa two months. I will allow him to go out. I will not arrest him because that's a word of honor," he said.
But in case the peace talks fail, Duterte said he ask Sison never to return to the country.
"But sabihin ko talaga sa kanya, “p
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (RENE LUMAWAG/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
The President has commended the troops for arresting Elizalde Cañete, also known as Ka Jinggoy, in a hospital raid in Bukidnon last weekend.
Duterte claimed that Cañete is the known successor of Leoncio Pitao, alias Commander Parago, who was killed in an encounter in 2015.
"I’d like to congratulate the military for --- Nahuli man daw nila si Jinggoy . Jinggoy was the successor of Parago," Duterte said during the inauguration of a bridge project in Davao City.
"He has six wounds. May anting-anting gyud ang y***. But he was captured because he was wounded. So the military is quite good in --- we’re winning the war actually," he added.
Cañete was reportedly injured in a recent firefight with government troops. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment of his gunshot wounds.
The rebel group, however, denounced the military arrest of Cañete while getting treatment at the hospital, saying it violated international humanitarian laws that protect injured persons in armed conflict.
The President, meantime, reaffirmed the government's willingness to resume the peace talks with the communist rebel group, citing a two-month window to reach an agreement.
He also promised safe passage to communist leader Jose Maria Sison when he returns to the country for the peace negotiations.
"I have invited Sison to come home. He has agreed. I gave him a window of two months, very small. Make or break tayo dito," he said.
"I will see to it and will personally maybe escort him to the airport ‘pag walang nangyari sa two months. I will allow him to go out. I will not arrest him because that's a word of honor," he said.
But in case the peace talks fail, Duterte said he ask Sison never to return to the country.
"But sabihin ko talaga sa kanya, “p* i** mo ‘wag ka nang bumalik dito. Papatayin talaga kita,'" he said. "'Pag walang mangyari, sabihin ko talaga sa kanya, 'Do not ever, ever return again to this country. I will kill you. You’ve killed so much of my soldiers and policemen,'" he added.