Joma Sison confident he won’t be arrested despite warrant in PHL

UTRECHT —Jose Maria “Joma” Sison is not worried about a possibility of arrest even after the Philippine National Police sought a “red notice” from the Intepol  against the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front.

Sison has a pending warrant of arrest on a murder charge. The warrant was issued by Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 on August 28.

“This false charge is laughable. It is impossible to arrest me on the basis of ‘red notice’ because I am a recognized political refugee. Hindi ako pwede basta hablutin,” Sison said in an interview with GMA News Online.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has said that Sison would be a wanted man across the globe if the Interpol published a red notice against him.

Sison said that under the international law, he could not be deported to any third country to be put under arrest or be subjected to torture or any inhumane treatment.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has said that the PNP was coordinating with the Interpol to help arrest the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines in connection with a murder in Inopacan, Leyte in 2006.

Sison said the charge was invalid and would fail the test of due process in the Netherlands.

“I have my rights to be informed of the charge, to have counsel and to ask for judicial review," Sison said.

"My lawyers can easily debunk the charge which refers to a fabricated incident in 1985.  I was then under maximum security detention and had no authority in the CPP and NPA,” he added. —NB, GMA News