Threats to Utrecht-based Reds leaders to derail talks, says peace panel exec

LUCENA CITY –– The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), claimed that threats against the security of top rebel leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison and his overseas-based comrades also threatened the possible resumption of the peace talks between the government and communist insurgents.

“Any threats against Professor Sison or any member of the NDFP peace panel is certain to derail any resumption of the peace talks,” Fidel Agcaoili, chair of the NDFP peace panel, said in a statement from Utrecht in The Netherlands Tuesday.

Agcaoili accused the Duterte administration of “engaging in its vintage ‘doble-kara’ (double-faced) tactic in dealing with the revolutionary movement.”

“On the one hand, reaching out to talk peace, while the other hand is viciously attacking the people and the revolutionary movement,” he said.

Agcaoili cited the report from an online news site “PinoyAbrod.Net” that Dutch police have recently warned Sison of “new threats to his security after they received reports of such threats.”

“That the Dutch police went to visit ‘Joma’ last week and warned him to take precautionary measures indicate that the Dutch authorities have become aware of and are taking seriously the threats against ‘Joma’,” Agcaoili said.

“They (Dutch police) presumably know who is behind the threats,” he added.

He called on the government peace panel “to set the record straight with the other minions of the Duterte regime that the NDFP is determined” to return to the negotiation table.

Edited by Lzb