Palace refutes Joma for calling Duterte No. 1 terrorist

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

“Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.”

This was the message of Malacañang to Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Ma. Sison, who called President Rodrigo Duterte as the country’s “No.1 terrorist” for the mass killings linked to the government’s deadly anti-drug campaign.

READ: Joma says NPA to intensify war; calls Duterte No. 1 terrorist

“The President, we have to underscore, terminated the peace talks after their members had failed to show their sincerity and commitment in pursuing genuine and meaningful peaceful negotiations with their continuous acts of violence and atrocities,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

Duterte signed on Thursday Proclamation No. 360, which terminates the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front (NDF) and ordering the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to cancel all the talks and meetings with the group.

READ: Duterte signs Proclamation No. 360 terminating peace talks with NPA

Duterte issued the declaration following the series of New People’s Army attacks that have affected civilians.

Sison on Thursday called Duterte, his former student, as the Philippines’ “No. 1 terrorist” for being “culpable for the abduction, torture and mass murder of an increasing large number of poor people suspected drug users and pushers” under his violent anti-illegal drug campaign. /jpv