House leaders meet with CPP founder ‘Joma’ Sison in Netherlands

Meeting in the Netherlands (from left) National Democratic Front chair Luis Jalandoni, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma. Sison, and House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II. Contributed photo

The leaders of the House of Representatives met with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria ‘‘Joma’’ Sison at the Netherlands, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said Friday.

In a text message, Belmonte said the meeting was not about discussing the issues behind the stalled peace talks between government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) but only an “amiable” meeting between the two parties.

“It was just a bridge-building and social meeting with Joma and (Luis) Jalandoni. We certainly had no authority to discuss any issues,” Belmonte said. Jalandoni is chair of the NDFP negotiating panel.

Asked how the meeting between the parties of two governments in war went, Belmonte said “it went well and was very amiable.”

“They appreciated that the House leadership also wanted to have links with them,” Belmonte said, who was accompanied in the meeting by House majority leader Neptali ”Boyet” Gonzales II.

The meeting was held as the peace talks between the Philippine government panel and the NDF broke down. The two parties had accused each other of scuttling the talks. AU