THE government of President Rodrigo R. Duterte has offered a P2-million bounty to anyone who can give information leading to the capture of communist rebels.

Informants would also get a piece of land if they help capture top officers of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the President said in a taped address on Tuesday.

“If you helped capture a high-ranking commander, you will get a cut,” Mr. Duterte said in Filipino. Informants would be placed under the government’s witness protection program and get resettled, he added.

He said informations should go the army or police and not to local government officials.

“The reason why they thrive until now is because there are some local officials who are actively supporting the Communist Party of the Philippines,” Mr. Duterte said.

Communist founder Jose Maria C. Sison earlier said they would extend a unilateral cease-fire as the government battles a coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The government had not extended its own cease-fire, citing alleged attacks by communist rebels.

Mr. Duterte had threatened to impose martial law if Maoist rebels continued their attacks during a Luzon-wide lockdown meant to contain the outbreak. — Gillian M. Cortez

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR