CPP’s Sison lukewarm to possible appointment of Bautista as government chief negotiator

From the Daily Tribune (Jan 14): CPP’s Sison lukewarm to possible appointment of Bautista as government chief negotiator

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison is cool on the possible appointment of retired Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as government chief negotiator in talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Sison, who is the chief political consultant of the NDFP panel negotiating peace with the government, noted Bautista’s military background as former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and “self-proclaimed” brains of the internal peace and security plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan.”

He, however, maintained that the reported appointment of Bautista, if true, is a prerogative of President Aquino.

“It’s Aquino’s prerogative to pick any civilian as chairman of the GRP (Government of Republic of the Philippines) negotiating panel. Technically, General Bautista is a civilian because he is already retired,” said Sison in a statement released in the CPP Web site.

“But it is also true that many are saying that it (appointment of Bautista) is an insult to the NDFP and the entire revolutionary movement if Aquino appoints him as panel chairman on the point that he is the self-proclaimed brains of oplan ‘Bayanihan,’” he added.

Earlier reports said that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has recommended the appointment of Bautista as panel chief for the negotiations with the CPP-NDFP.

Currently, Bautista is the executive director of the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice and Peace, tasked to lead policy discussions on key issues such as territorial disputes and peace talks. He was appointed to the post, with the rank of undersecretary, months after retiring from the military service last July.

“It’s okay if he is a retired military officer if he is like former General Fidel Ramos who is good in peace negotiations,” said Sison.

“Pero umaabot din sa NDFP ang mga ulat na garapal na militar ang mentalidad niya (Bautista) at wala siyang gusto kundi ipataw daw niya ang pagsurender ng NPA (New People’s Army) dahil sa natatalo na raw ito at kung hindi payag ang NPA tuloy pa rin ang balasik ng kanyang Oplan Bayanihan,” Sison added.

The self-exiled CPP chairman, however, stressed that the IPSP “Bayanihan” is a failure.

“Palpak naman itong Oplan Bayanihan, lalong lumakas ang NPA,” claimed Sison.

Sison expressed belief that if the Aquino administration is really serious in talking peace with the CPP-NDFP, the President can appoint other personality more fitted as chief negotiator.

“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,” Sison said.

Sison has expressed optimism that the long-stalled peace negotiations between the GRP and the CPP-NDFP would resume within the first few months of 2015.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/cpp-s-sison-lukewarm-to-possible-appointment-of-bautista-as-government-chief-negotiator