No peace talks in PH, Joma insists

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is “ruining” the peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), exiled Communist Party of the Philippines ( CPP) leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison said on Friday.

“Duterte is the one ruining the peace negotiations. He also destructed the whole second year of term [of the talks],” Sison told reporters in an online interview, a day after the government decided to delay the resumption of talks earlier set for June 28.

“It seems like there would be no resumption of peace talks if he (Duterte) will insist to have the peace talks in the Philippines,” he added.

At the same time, Sison belied Malacañang’s claim that he had no arrest warrant, saying he was charged with multiple murder in Leyte in the 1980s, a case that he described as “fake.”

Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza announced on Thursday that the government had decided to delay the peace negotiations with the communist rebels, saying the public needed to be consulted first.

Sison expressed disappointment and frustration over the decision announced by the government despite the “successful” back-channel talks held in The Netherlands last week.

Sison said rebels had “no choice” but to wage war to achieve “national and social liberation.”

President Duterte on Thursday said the government needed more