The NPA (New People's Army) Calls up the attention to our Pres. Duterte to Resign! PLS. READ...

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday confirmed President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier statements linking communist rebels to alleged ouster efforts against him.

In the same breath, AFP Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said he has no sufficient knowledge as to the President’s claim that the Left has banded with the opposition Liberal Party (LP) in purported destabilization efforts.

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"If our beloved President means the plan, we see something different. And that's not just what the opposition is all about ... So the Armed Forces really are armed groups, "Padilla said in a news conference in Malacañang. "On the side of politics, there are other monitors. And on our side, we do not get it often, "he added. What is certain, Padilla said, is that communist rebels and other private armed groups in the country have been working to destabilize the government.

"The NPA (New People's Army) will continue to monitor us. In fact, their activities in the countryside, and especially in Mindanao, are always linked to their extortion activities, "he said. "The objective of the NPA is actually to take hold of the whole Philippines ... So that is why, always, they are coming from a very hard bargaining position." The President earlier accused the LP and the Left of joining forces to destabilize his administration. Both have denied the allegation.

The President earlier accused the LP and the Left of joining forces to destabilize his administration. Both have denied the allegation.

On Thursday, LP president Sen. Francis Pangilinan denied that the opposition bloc was plotting to oust the President. On the same day, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said defense and military officials had no knowledge of such destabilization moves.

Left-leaning groups had welcomed the electoral victory of Duterte, a self-proclaimed socialist, in hopes of pursuing talks with the government and instituting social reforms anchored on their ideologies.

Peace negotiations between the government and rebel sides, however, broke down earlier this year following a string of attacks against state troops allegedly committed by the NPA.

Despite the President’s pronouncements that he would no longer pursue negotiations with the Left, there has yet to be a formal termination of the talks, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza earlier said.

The President has been at loggerheads with left-leaning groups since the collapse of negotiations.

Duterte had warned that he might declare nationwide martial law if the communist threat would grow. Lorenzana later clarified that it was “very remote” as communist forces in the country have significantly weakened.

The collapse of the peace talks and the Commission on Appointments’ rejection of left-leaning Cabinet appointees Judy Taguiwalo and Rafael Mariano prompted the leftist Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives to bolt the chamber’s super majority last month.

Early in his term, Duterte had vowed to achieve peace with the communist movement, which has been waging Asia’s longest-running insurgency.

In a speech Thursday, Duterte again expressed doubts that peace with the communists could be achieved within his term, saying the task was up to his successor.

SOURCE: PHVIRAL