[Inquirer] The communist National Democratic Front (NDF) praised President Duterte’s anti-US statement. A statement signed by NDF spokesperson Rubi del Mundo said, "The National Democratic Front in Southern Mindanao commends President Duterte for his unprecedented statement. No other Philippine president has ever publicly censured and taken US imperialism to task for its atrocious crimes against sovereign nations and peoples of the world.""Now at this critical time of its decisive hegemonic pivot to Asia and China's challenge to its regional dominance, US imperialism's sham concern for human rights is being challenged with open hostility by a government it considers its reliable lackey," the statement said.
The statement said the US is worried about present developments in the Philippines, and the prospect of peace based on social justice.
The statement said, "It can lose its control of the country if the peace negotiations with the NDF, and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) should translate to the socio-economic and sovereign interest of the Filipino people. Hence, it is in its best interest to exploit anti-Duterte forces to sabotage the peace negotiations with the NDFP and preempt any substantial talks with Moro revolutionary groups by fomenting anti-Moro sentiments with US-backed bombings and other terrorist attacks."
The NDF said calling US imperialism a "two-faced terrorist" is a "fundamental step," but not enough.
“It must also translate to junking colonial agreements for the benefit of the Filipino people. President Duterte and his government must abrogate the Mutual Defense Treaty and junk the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement," explaining that these policies only continue to "position the Philippines as a willing pawn for US imperialism's wars of aggression."