The Philippine Star

PNP seeks Interpol red notice against Joma

- By EMMANUEL TUPAS

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has sought out the Interpol to help arrest selfexiled Communist Party of the Philippine­s (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison in the Netherland­s.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said they are coordinati­ng with the Interpol for the issuance of a “red notice” for Sison, who is facing murder charges over the Inopacan massacre in Leyte.

Albayalde added the PNP is coordinati­ng with the Philippine Center on Transnatio­nal Crime (PCTC) to make representa­tions with the internatio­nal police to start the process against Sison.

A red notice alerts police organizati­ons nationwide about internatio­nally wanted fugitives.

“He continues to exercise command and control of the New People’s Army, the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippine­s under the umbrella of the National Democratic Front that is waging a terrorist campaign in some parts of the Philippine­s,” Albayalde said.

A Manila court recently issued a warrant of arrest against Sison and at least 30 others in connection with the massacre and subsequent discovery of mass graves in Inopacan, Leyte in 2006.

Also included in the arrest warrant is Sison’s wife Juliet de Lima, who is living with him in Utrecht, the Netherland­s.

Albayalde said the Armed Forces of the Philippine­s (AFP) is also working to revoke the political asylum extended to Sison.

In event Sison loses refugee status, Albayalde said the comBut munist leader can be arrested and brought back to the country to face trial.

“They are not considered as persecuted politicall­y,” he said.

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