Communist rebels on Tuesday shot back at President Rodrigo Duterte for threatening to bomb schools operated by the lumads on suspicion that these schools were teaching students to rebel against the government.

Describing Duterte as a "madman" and a "bully," the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) criticized the President for using his power to intimidate the "small and oppressed" only to bow to powerful forces such as the United States and China.

"To the Madman Duterte: Nice try. You thought you could still fool the people with your grandstanding and phrasemongering. Having been rebuked by the people’s jeers, you threaten to drop bombs on the lumad schools. You threaten to kill the children. You are the lowest of the low," the CPP said in a statement.

"You are a madman with bombs. You are a bully. An arrogant street thug intoxicated with power. But you only pick on the weak, the small and the oppressed. You bomb their homes, shell their communities and expect them to bow to your power. You exercise power but only against the powerless," it added.

Speaking to reporters after his second State of the Nation Address before a joint session of Congress, Duterte said the schools had been operating without a permit from the Department of Education.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/619324/duterte-warns-lumads-i-ll-bomb-your-schools/story/?tag=sona2017

"Kasi eskwelahan nila, but they are teaching subversion, communism, lahat na. So umalis kayo diyan. Sabihin ko diyan sa mga lumad ngayon, umalis kayo diyan. Bobombahan ko ‘yan. Isali ko ‘yang mga istruktura ninyo," he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Duterte made his threat as he recalled the casualties communist insurgents inflicted on security forces.

In its statement, the CPP said Duterte cannot even keep his word to stop the mining companies that "poison and plunder the land," adding its armed wing, the New People's Army, "has done much more than you in defending the country’s patrimony."

"You have bowed to China. Stuffed with $24 billion of Chinese loans, your big mouth is big no more. You have practically surrendered the country’s rights. Not a whimper from you while China transformed the Spratly islands into their military fortress," the CPP said, referring to Duterte's stance not to press with the arbitral tribunal ruling that invalidated China's massive claim in the South China Sea.

"You have bowed to the US imperialists. You have zero pride when you allowed the American military officials to direct the operations in Marawi to bounty-hunt for [Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon] Hapilon and waste the lives of 'your soldiers.' You beat your chest and order to bomb Marawi and lick the boots of the US military for providing you the rifles and jetfighters," the CPP said.

The communist rebels said "one year of death and destruction is enough" under Duterte.

"The people demand an end to all your fascist madness," it said. —Virgil Lopez/KBK/KVD, GMA News