By Azer Parrocha/PNA
MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Saturday urged farmworkers to refrain from being persuaded by communist rebels assuring them anew that land reform will continue under his administration.
Duterte made this remark during the distribution of certificates of land ownerships award (CLOA) to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Kidapawan City, Cotabato.
“Bakit kayo makinig sa mga komunista? Bakit kayo makinig kay Sison (Why do you have to listen to communists? Why do you have to listen to Sison)?” Duterte said referring to Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison.
Duterte criticized Sison for acting as if he was the only “thinking Filipino”, stressing that although he agreed with Reds’ efforts to push for land reform, he did not agree with pushing for efforts to resume peace talks without them laying down their arms.
“Sang-ayon kami sa land reform ninyo. Sang-ayon ako sa mga bagay, social justice. Pero huwag ninyong ipadaan sa armed struggle (I agree with your efforts to push for land reform. I agree with some things like social justice. But don’t settle this through armed struggle),” Duterte said.
Duterte added that he has asked Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones to prioritize placing government lands in Quezon, Bicol, and Negros under land reform.
“I-land reform mo lahat ang gobyernong lupa bago ako matapos pagka-Presidente (Distribute all government lands before my term ends),” Duterte said.
He noted that even without the communists, there will always be friction for as long as there is no real land reform.
Meanwhile, Duterte reminded members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines to be “neutral” and not support any candidates running for next year’s midterm elections.
“Huwag kayong makialam sa election. Huwag kayong magpabor sa kandidato ko at huwag kayong pumabor doon sa kalaban. Neutral kayo (Don’t get involved in elections. Don’t favor candidates and don’t side with the opponents. You should be neutral),” Duterte said.
