By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Reporter

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday, July 27, said he plans to file charges against communist fighters for their extortion activities, adding that he would urge Congress to pass a “National Security Code.”

Visiting a vigil at Guihulngan City Hall in Negros Oriental for cops slain by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA), Mr. Duterte ordered the military to stop using the term “revolutionary taxes” when referring to the Left’s “plain extortion” and “kidnapping” activities.

He said criminal raps would be filed against guerrillas on the grounds of “a kidnapping or as a robbery.”

“Today, I’m directing the Armed Forces and the police not to use the word revolutionary tax,” Mr. Duterte told reporters.

“Use ‘extortion,’ ‘hold-upper,’ ‘kidnapper’ at i-demanda ko kayo sa (and I will sue them based on the) Revised Penal Code,” he added.

Mr. Duterte then said he will ask lawmakers to pass a National Security Code and assured “peace-loving” Filipinos that they have nothing to worry about such a measure.

“Natatakot lang naman diyan, ‘yung kalaban ng gobyerno (Those who are afraid of it are the enemies of the state),” he said.

In 1978, the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1498 that created a National Security Code which “compiles” all the emergency powers he acquired when he declared martial law in 1972.

He then repealed PD 1498 with PD 1876 in 1983.

Mr. Marcos issued Proclamation 1081 dated Sept. 21, 1972 which established martial rule based on his claims of civil strife and threats of a communist takeover.

Mr. Duterte’s tongue-lashing against the rebels came after he called off peace talks following attacks by communist guerrillas against government forces amid military rule in Mindanao, where troops are battling pro-Islamic State militants.

He once again slammed communist leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison — in exile in Utrecht, The Netherlands — and dared him to return to the Philippines.

“If you are truly a revolutionary leader, my God, come home and fight here,” Mr. Duterte told Mr. Sison.

“All these years, nandoon ka sa ibang lugar, nag-papagastos ka sa ibang gobyerno….Tapos ‘yung mga tao mo dito, itong mga NPA, namamatay na lang,” he added.

(All these years, you have been staying in another country and making them pay for your [welfare]. While you’re there, your NPA fighters are dying.)

The NPA remains in the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations. The US, through its control over the International Police (Interpol), can arrest Mr. Sison outside of the EU.

Mr. Sison has been living in exile in Utrecht since his passport was canceled by the Philippine government in 1987.

Messrs. Duterte and Sison have been exchanging heated words following the termination of the peace process.

In a Facebook post, Mr. Sison hit back at Mr. Duterte and said the President should “look after his mental health and consult with a professional psychiatrist” because he has a “sick mind.”

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