PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government troops to 'shoot and kill right away' communist rebels holding a gun, saying they were simply 'bandits' without any ideology.

Duterte made the statement during the joint meeting of national and regional task forces to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday, as he lamented that communist insurgents continue to commit criminal offenses, such as extortion, arson, rape, and murder.