Last August 1, Rodrigo Duterte expressed he wants to expand mandate for firemen to include their participation in the government’s anti-insurgency operations.

“We always hear AFP claims that it is winning the war. Why then is Duterte desperate to arm firemen against the NPA?,” the CPP said.

The CPP added, “at any rate he will regret this. The NPA will have more sources for its arms.”

The CPP also condemned Duterte’s threat that he was “about to do something drastic” in the coming days.

“The only drastic thing Duterte can do to end the spate of killings in Negros is to disband his death squads, what he calls his “angels,” the CPP pointed out.