2018

Sison made the response as his reaction to news reports that President Duterte is eyeing July as the possible month for the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Reds

During their back-channel talks in the Netherlands, negotiators from the government and the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) agreed that military and rebel forces would stand down as early as next week before the two sides resumed formal peace talks, according to Sison

Latest suggestion from the GRP is to start the stand down on June 21 instead of June 14. The exact date will be known only from the joint announcement to be made by the GRP and NDFP on or about June 9.

Sison, now serving as NDFP chief political consultant, made the declaration in response to President Duterte’s warning that if the talks fail, it could lead to the resumption of the war between government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas, the CPP armed wing.

“For sure I shall return to the Philippines after the signing of the interim peace agreement, which is already being prepared for June, and the subsequent mutual approval of the comprehensive agreement on social and economic reforms by the GRP and NDFP either in July or August,” Sison said.

He inspired his comrades to resist by telling them that they were fearless because they were selfless for the people.

Passing on the tax burden to the impoverished people is supposed to assure the government of revenues to pay for the rapidly excalating costs of military, police and intelligence operations, budgetary and trade deficits and servicing of the local public debt and foreign loans.

At home, I get personal security from friendly relations with neighbors, the intercom and alarm system of the apartment building and the emergency phone number. There are also the routine police patrols in the neighborhood and possibly electronic surveillance of my phone and digicam coverage of my street. The NDF Information Office to which I go very often is located in the city center of Utrecht and is certainly covered by digicam surveillance and police patrols.

Sison in a statement on Saturday, May 26, bared NDFP’s plan for him to meet with Duterte at the signing of the Interim Peace Agreement that includes a ceasefire agreement and the long-standing demand for an amnesty proclamation for around 500 political prisoners in the country.

As initially agreed, President Rodrigo Duterte was set to attend the signing of the interim peace agreement. However, Sison said the government side “backed out and offered” Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to represent Duterte.