Joma Sison thumbs down ex-AFP chief Bautista as govt peace negotiator

The government's supposed plan to designate former Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as its chief negotiator with the communist rebels does not sit well with Jose Ma. Sison, the communist party's chairman.

In a transcript of interview posted on the Philippine Revolution Web Central, Sison said it would be an “insult” to the revolutionary movement if Aquino would proceed in naming Bautista as head of the government negotiating panel.

“Marami ang nagsasabi na insulto sa... buong kilusang rebolusyonaryo kung siya (Bautista) ang gagawin ni Aquino na panel chairman niya sa punto na self-proclaimed na utak siya ng Oplan Bayanihan,” he said, referring to the military's anti-insurgency campaign.

Bautista crafted the IPSP Bayanihan while he was the AFP deputy chief of staff for operations. The military began its implementation in January 2011, with an overall objective of winning the peace.

Sison said if Aquino is serious in the peace negotiations, he will choose a more deserving person to lead the negotiationg panel.

“Sa tingin ko, kung seryoso si Aquino sa peace negotiations, makakapili siya ng mas angkop at mas magaling na chairman ng kanyang panel. Baka naman hindi interesado si Aquino sa pag-usad ng peace negotiations?” said Sison, who is on self-exile in The Netherlands.

Bautista bowed out of the military service in July last year upon reaching the retirement age of 56. He was eventually named as the Executive Director of the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice and Peace. —KBK, GMA News