Jalandoni cancels visit

NATIONAL Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Luis Jalandoni and his wife Consuelo Ledesma have dropped their plans to visit Manila for a possible meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte because of threats that they would be arrested, according to Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison.

Sison said NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili was also having second thoughts on visiting the country. Jalandoni and Agcaoili had earlier confirmed that they would visit Manila to meet with Duterte.

“Threats have been made by the armed minions of Duterte against Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma. They have therefore decided not to go to Manila,” Sison told The Manila Times.

He added that Agcaoili “is still considering whether he should go or not.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had welcomed the possible meeting between the NDF leaders and the President, saying the military is ready for peace and war.

If Agcaoili would pursue his visit in Manila, Sison said he should be careful “of the Duterte rule of tyranny, arbitrariness, mass murders and impunity.”

“[Agcaoili] is waiting for further negative or positive manifestations from Duterte and the military,” the exiled communist leader added.

Earlier this month, Duterte disclosed that Agcaoili and Ja-landoni will fly to manila to meet

up with him.

But in his speech in Papua New Guinea where he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic cooperation

Summit, Duterte said he has no inclination to revive the peace process with the communists because he does not want to talk with Sison.

This prompted Sison to slam the President anew.

“He has no need for serious peace talks with the NDF because he is hellbent on either formally declaring martial law nationwide or carrying out a de facto martial law nationwide,” he said.

But should Duterte changes his mind and again wants to continue the peace negotiations, Sison said he will keep the doors open.

“Yes, of course, if only to stop him from pushing his scheme of fascist dictatorship ala Marcos,” he said, referring to the military rule imposed by former Ferdinand Marcos.

“The NDFP has a consistent policy of being open to peace negotiations with GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines), whoever is the president, in order to obtain social, economic and political reforms as basis of a just and lasting peace,” Sison added.