Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte has warned Filipinos not to be deceived by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF.)
The vice president issued the statement Thursday evening as she sent her condolences in a video message to the family of Sgt. Jernell Ramillano, who recently died in an encounter with the rebels in Balayan, Batangas on December 17, 2023.
“Para naman po sa mga magulang, asawa, anak, at buong pamilya ni Sgt. Jernell Ramillano, nakikidalamhati po ako sa inyo at saludo po ako sa serbisyong ipinamalas ni Jernell sa ating mahal na Pilipinas. Mananatili sya sa puso at isipan ng bawat Pilipino at ang kanyang katapangan at pagmamahal sa bansa ay magsisilbing inspirasyon ng bawat isa sa amin upang mas mapabuti pa ang paglilingkod sa bayan,” Duterte said.
She also commended RamilLano for his courage and heroic contribution to the country.
She added that Ramillano and his family are just some of the victims of violence being perpetrated by the CPP-NPA-NDF.
The vice president also shared that when she was mayor of Davao City in 2018, the mother of 1st Lt. Jaren Relota, who also died fighting the CPP-NPA-NDF, asked her how many more lives would be lost because of the rebel group.
“More Sgt. Ramillano and 1st Lt. Relota will risk their lives if we consider the traitorous, deceitful, and violent enemies of the CPP, NPA, and NDFP. Many young people also will not be able to graduate if we let them be victimized by these groups to be made armed terrorists,” she said.
Duterte believes that the sole purpose of the CPP-NPA-NDF is to destroy the country’s foundation of democracy; abolish the government institutions; and drive the country into poverty, chaos, and injustice.
“Mga kababayan, gusto kong malaman ninyo na ang tanging layunin ng CPP, NPA, at NDFP ay sirain ang pundasyon ng ating demokrasya, pabagsakin ang mga institusyon ng pamahalaan, at kaladkarin tayo sa kahirapan, kaguluhan, at kawalan ng hustisya. Dili na kita magpatonto sa mga terorista nga sa dugay nga panahon nahimong babag aron atong masinati ang pamuyo nga malinawon ug matagamtaman ang kalambuan sa atong mga komunidad,” she said.
The vice president recently expressed full support for the government’s peace efforts, but urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. not to grant amnesty to the rebels.
It can be recalled that she even described the joint communiqué between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the NDF as an “agreement with the devil.”
