COMMUNIST Party founder Jose Maria Sison said on Thursday the possible election of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte may lead to a ceasefire between the government and the insurgent movement and the resumption of talks to end the 47-year-old communist rebellion.
“I will come home as soon as there is a sure basis for the ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks,” Sison said in an interview with television network ABS-CBN from his home in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
“I might even come home for a visit as early as June to witness the oathtaking of Duterte, if he wins or if he is not cheated,” he added.
Sison said he spoke on Tuesday with Duterte who thanked him for helping in the release of five policemen detained by the communist New People’s Army.
“We [also] talked about the need to resume the peace negotiations and release the political prisoners unjustly imprisoned by the Arroyo and Aquino charged in violation of the Hernandez political offense doctrine and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees,” Sison said.
The communist leader described Duterte as “the most open to coalition government of national unity, peace and development.”
But officials of the Aquino administration scored Duterte for his ties with the communist movement.
Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II warned Filipinos to be wary of voting for Duterte because it might lead to the dominance of communism in the country.
Malacañang, through palace spokesperson Herminio Coloma, also expressed concern on Duterte’s ties with the CPP-NPA, a warning that was branded as “pathetic.”
“Malacañang’s dig at Duterte for appearing in a picture with the NPA is pathetic,” Renato Reyes, secretary-general of militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said.
“The administration is so desperate to win in the polls that it harps on antiquated, Cold War-era, McCarthyist red-baiting to put down a candidate,” he added.
Reyes said that what should people seriously think and be concerned is six more years under the straight path that will be continued by administration bet Manuel Roxas II.
“Mr. Coloma, what should really alarm the people is not Duterte’s picture with rebels, but rather the grim prospect of six more years of the Yellow plague that is the Aquino administration,” he said.
Sison clarified, however, that he is not endorsing Duterte because the National Democratic Front of the Philippines does not believe that elections are the solution to the country’s social problems.
“[But] I can see the track record and good qualities of Duterte. He has been very cooperative with the revolutionary movement in ways beneficial to the people,” Sison said.