Lorenzana to Joma Sison: You’re acting like a spoiled brat

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana slammed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison after the latter expressed frustration over the cancellation of the resumption of peace talks on June 28.

In a 24 Oras report by Raffy Tima on Sunday, Lorenzana called the communist leader a "spoiled brat."

"Mr. Sison is acting like a spoiled brat, which he is, and proves that he is very out of touch with reality here," Lorenzana said.

"Instead of rationally talking with our panel to discuss how to move forward the resumption of the peace talks, he goes into tantrum and orders the NPA [New People's Army] to wage a people's war," he added.

Lorenzana, however, also said that Sison no longer had the ear of many in the NPA.

Following Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza's announcement that the peace talks will not resume as earlier agreed upon, Sison accused the Duterte administration of turning its back on the deals it had signed together with the communist leaders pertaining to the schedule of ceasefire and resumption of peace negotiations.

Sison also claimed that the revolutionary forces have no choice but to "singlemindedly wage people’s war to achieve the national and social liberation of the Filipino people" as the government was clearly not serious in attaining peace with the Reds.

Lorenzana then said insurgents in the Philippines are no longer listening to the calls of Sison.

'Not an order but an observation'

Sison, however, clarified that he had not ordered the Reds to wage war against the government, adding that he was just making an observation.

"Hindi utos kung hindi obserbasyon ng ginawa ko na sinabi ko na the revolutionary forces and the people have no choice but to single-mindedly wage people's war. Dati namang ginagawa ng kilusang rebolusyonaryo ang digmang bayan," Sison pointed out.

"Pinatay na ni Duterte ang peace negotiations kung ipipilit niyang ipailalim sa control at pananakot niya ang peace negotiations sa Manila," he added.

Meanwhile, Dureza previously mentioned that President Rodrigo Duterte wants more public consultations regarding the matter. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News