Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria “Joma” Sison (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria “Joma” Sison on Saturday said the communist rebels were supposed to declare a ceasefire order at 8 p.m. as the ultimatum given by President Rodrigo Duterte had lapsed.
“Four hours ago mayroong announcement na ceasefire order ang Kilusang Rebolusyonaryo at 8 p.m. … Sila na ang magpapasya kung ilalabas pa ba nila o iho-hold,” he said over ABS-CBN News Channel.
Sison said the order was a public notice from the information department of the communist party’s central committee, and was recommended by the National Democratic Front (NDF).
He called Duterte a “bully,” saying that the tough-talking President could not make the rebels follow his orders.
“Kailanman ay hindi pwedeng utusan ni Duterte ang rebolusyunaryong grupo na sumunod sa kanyang gusto,” Sison said.
“Masyadong butangero ‘yang si Duterte at gusto niya ay gulo agad … kung ayaw niya ng katahimikan eh ‘di huwag,” he added.
Like Duterte, Sison said he was not in the position to order the insurgents to push through with the ceasefire.
He also said that the military was not enforcing their Commander in Chief’s ceasefire order, which he called “hungkag, blangko, walang laman.”
“Hindi pwedeng ultimatum, ultimatum. Ang pinag-uusapan dito oras lang at araw. Salita lang ‘yan. Ang nire-resolve natin ay tunay na putukan na tumagal na ng ilang dekada,” Sison said.
“Okay lang sa akin na mag-usap ang negotiating panels ng dalawang panig, para kung ano man ang miscommunication ay maayos,” he said.
Despite Duterte’s lifting of his truce order, however, Sison said he was still open to the resumption of peace talks in Oslo, Norway, in August.
“As far as I’m concerned, what have been decided na pagkikita ng dalawang panel, itutuloy,” Sison said.
Duterte on Saturday ordered the lifting of the truce he declared less than a week ago after his deadline passed without the reciprocation of the communist rebels.
The President issued the ultimatum after members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked government troops in Davao del Norte on Wednesday, killing a militiaman and wounding four others.
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