President Duterte on Zarate:
We are not red-tagging you. We are identifying you as members in a grand conspiracy comprising all the legal fronts that you have organized headed by NDF (National Democratic Front) and Communist Party of the Philippines.
Kung magsalita ka, you make it appear that we are milking the government… Alam mo sa totoo, Zarate, ‘pag nakita kita sa TV, para akong nakakita ng tae ng aso.
You are a communist, huwag sabihin you are friends with the NPA. You are co-conspirators, komunista ka, adre.
May mga ilang tao na nanggaling sa inyong kampo na (There are some former members who) openly attacked you, not only criticized, for your sheer brutality in this communal war.
You are accusing us of red-tagging you. No, because the Armed Forces of the Philippines is very correct. You are being identified as members of the communist. Alam namin. ‘Yun ang totoo. Hindi red-tagging.
There is no longer any ideology. Wala tong mga komunista.., gusto lang nila umagaw ng gobyerno. Mga bobo naman, ang p******a. Sino ang bright si Sison? ‘Yan ‘yung bright si Sison? Susmaryosep!” Duterte said, referring to exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison.