Peace talks with gov’t not yet terminated, Joma clarifies

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison on Friday clarified that there is no decision yet to terminate peace negotiations with the government.

Sison made the clarification a day after news reports came out saying he has cancelled the peace negotiations.

In a statement, the self-exiled communist leader said only the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) — the CPP's political arm of which he is the chief consultant — can suspend, cancel or terminate the peace talks.

He said at present, the NDFP "has not yet made such a decision."

"I can only make the pertinent advice to the Council in my capacity as Chief Political Consultant," Sison said.

On Thursday, the Netherlands-based Sison said the communist movement would be better off working for Duterte's ouster and prepare for peace talks with the next administration.

"So long as he heads the GRP, the Filipino people, especially the oppressed and exploited, cannot expect any benefit from negotiating with the Duterte regime," Sison said.

The formal resumption of peace talks was meant to proceed on June 28 in Norway, but fell through because Duterte said that he needed more time and more consultations before resuming the talks.

A stand-down agreement was signed on June 8 and was supposed to take effect on June 21, a week before the opening of formal talks. —KBK, GMA News