Lorenzana hits Sison’s ‘childish tantrums,’ vows to pursue local peace talks

“AGAIN?”

This was the reaction of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana following the statement of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison for saying that the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) would rather have President Rodrigo Duterte ousted than having peace talks with his government.

“Na naman? (Again?) Ito talagang si Sison, he never ceases to amaze me. He begs for peace talks and a ceasefire, and now he turns around to say that they will no longer negotiate with this government and threatens to destabilize the administration,” Lorenzana said in a statement.

The Defense chief cited several instances when the CPP had been participating in destabilization plots since 1968.

Lorenzana said that the “strategy” of the communists were obvious: “Talk peace and then press for a ceasefire so that they can regain lost ground.”

“Their talks with the government is just one of their many ways to push for their so-called armed struggle. That has been the ultimate objective of the CPP-NDF,” Lorenzana said.

“Mr. Sison, in response to your childish tantrums, we will vigorously pursue the ongoing localized peace talks. I am sure that once you are out of the picture, true peace will have a chance to become a reality and you will be consigned to the dustbin of history,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sison clarified that the NDFP has not totally withdrawn from the peace negotiations with the Philippine government under the Duterte administration, clarifying news reports that he terminated the talks.

“Only the National Council of the NDFP can make the decision to suspend, cancel or terminate the peace negotiations with GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) and has not yet made such a decision,” he said in a separate statement.

“I can only make the pertinent advice to the council in my capacity as chief political consultant,” Sison said.

He said he only made an estimate that Duterte would render the resumption of the talks by “imposing” on the NDFP to have the formal negotiations in the Philippines, which he insisted it the communist political arm would oppose.

“[I will] let Duterte have the singular dishonor of repeatedly terminating the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations within so short a time,” Sison said. DEMPSEY REYES

 

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