Joma Sison willing to return to PHL to negotiate peace with Duterte

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison on Monday said he will end his exile and directly talk to President Rodrigo Duterte if he is sure that the peace negotiations will no longer be bungled by "peace spoilers."

"Sa posibilidad na uuwi para makasama ko si Presidente Duterte na gabayan ang peace negotiations at mapabilis ang tako ng peace negotiations, kailangan may sufficient na pagsulong ng peace negotiations, may malakas na batayan at hindi madaling ma-upset ng peace spoilers," Sison told Super Radyo dzbb in an interview.

"Kung uuwi ako na walang katiyakan at magandang circumstance para sa peace negotiations, baka masingitan ng peace spoilers," added Sison, who acts as chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

He said he would feel secure only after the negotiating panels of the NDFP and the Philippine government have already a ceasefire agreement, the amnesty and release of political prisoners and have resolved two important issues on agrarian reform and rural development, which are under the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER).

He believes that these agreements and issues can be resolved by both peace panels during the 60-day window set by Duterte.

Sought for comment, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said he was unsure if Sison had the right to make conditions on behalf of the communist movement.

"I don't know if he is in the position to provide conditions but the President said, 'if peace talks will resume he's welcome to come home.' The President will assure his security and the fact that he will not be arrested. Beyond that, the President has not acceded to any further terms," Roque said at a news conference.

On Saturday, Duterte invited Sison to return to the country so they can directly negotiate peace and oversee the talks.

"Proposal ko kay Sison, hindi ako magpunta doon. Ang pinag-awayan natin ang Pilipinas. Pumunta ka dito. Ako magbigay ng pamasahe, I will pay for all your billeting and pagkain," Duterte said.

He added that during the 60-day window, he will order the military not to make any move against communist rebels. He said rebels, for their part, just need to lay down their arms.

Duterte did not say when the 60-day window will start.

Sison said he feels Duterte has "good faith" in making the offer.

"Pero kailangan isaalang-alang naming dalawa ang peligro na kung skaaling may makasingit at may mangyari sa atin at kung kaya nagkagulo man bago pa magsimula ang peace negotiations..." he added.

During the interview, Sison said the usual "peace spoilers" are those in the military who will benefit if the war between the government and the communist movement will continue.

"Dun sila nakikinabang at kung may pagtatapos, gusto nila 'yung sila ay panalo at ma-humiliate at matalo yung kanilang kalaban na New People's Army at iba pang puwersa na rebulusyonaryo," Sison said.

Sison has been in exile for 31 years. He fled to Europe in 1987 after talks between the communist group and the government first failed during the time of President Corazon Aquino.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, chief of the team negotiating with the NDFP, told Super Radyo dzBB in a separate interview that his team is already making arrangement for the resumption of peace talks.

Bello also said that government negotiators have started backchannel talks with their counterparts in the NDFP.

Sison and Duterte traded barbs last year after the peace negotiations between the government and the NDFP were terminated.

More than a week after terminating the peace talks, Duterte signed a proclamation declaring CPP-New People's Army as a terrorist organization. —Rie Takumi/ALG/NB, GMA News