Heroes Hall, Malacañang
February 21, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte hosted a ‘merienda’ for several former rebels for a second time at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace.

In his speech, the President empathized with the former rebels and spoke about the damages that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – New People’s Army (NPA) and other terrorist groups do to private businesses and to the development of regional communities due to their violent extortion activities.

Last December 21, 2017 while in his hometown in Panacan, Davao City, the President promised to bring the former rebels to Malacañan Palace and tour them in Manila, with the goal of giving a different perspective in life, particularly in peace building and nationalism.

The President previously hosted the first batch of former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels numbering more than a 100 in Malacañan Palace on February 7, 2018.

An estimated 300 guests composed of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers, government officials, and former rebels were present in the second such event.

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