Joma Sison denies Roque’s claim that he is now a Dutch citizen

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison has denied a claim made by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. that Sison had already become a Dutch citizen.

"I have never applied for Dutch citizenship and have never been naturalized as a Dutch citizen. The legitimate mass media or any respectable person can verify this fact from the Dutch authorities in The Hague or the Dutch embassy in Manila," Sison said in a statement.

"In fact, my actual residence in The Netherlands is in accordance with my being a recognized political refugee since 1992 and also in accordance with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. I can travel for the purpose of peace negotiations under a laissez passer without having to be a Dutch citizen," Sison added.

The CPP founder has been residing in The Netherlands where he is seeking asylum as a political refugee since 1987.

Sison pointed to a video posted on social media showing Roque talking to reporters and claiming that he [Sison] had already taken Dutch citizenship.

"Joma, if I understand, has taken Dutch citizenship. He's a foreign national," Roque said in the clip.

Sison questioned the motive of the Duterte administration's supposed spreading of "fake news" against activists critical of the government.

"What is the objective of the Duterte propaganda machine in spreading fake news, with lies and ad hominem innuendoes against patriotic and progressive intellectuals and activists like Teddy Casino, Renato Reyes and myself?" Sison said.

Sison alleged that it was done to divert attention from the "monstrous crimes" of the present administration, citing the alleged extrajudicial killings under the drug war, as well as the drug smuggling and distribution by the drug lords aligned with Duterte.

The communist leader also criticized the Duterte administration for the destruction of Marawi city by bombing and artillery fire, the scheme of martial rule and fascist dictatorship under the pretext of establishing a federal form of government, the sell-out of Philippine natural resources to foreign interests, colossal pork barrel corruption and the excessive foreign borrowing and higher taxes.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier terminated the peace negotiations with communist groups. He also formally branded them as terror groups. — MDM, GMA News