Trillanes is nothing, Joma says as talks readied

From The Standard (Jun 3): Trillanes is nothing, Joma says as talks readied

COMMUNIST Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison dismissed critics of the peace talks with the National Democratic Front even as he announced that negotiators are scheduled to meet in Oslo, Norway on June 15 for preliminary discussions.

Singling out coup plotter Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Sison warned against people out to sabotage the talks, especially because of the high prospect of concluding a final peace agreement with the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“The preliminary talks will start mid-June in Oslo and we’re confident it will be a good start as part of confidence building in preparation for a formal peace talks,” Sison told reporters in a tele-conference held at the headquarters of the Ibon Foundation in Quezon City.

“The Duterte government and NDF should watch any coup plot. Trillanes is nothing,” Sison said. “When Duterte and the NDF get together for the country, we will be able to quash such plots. Do not be afraid to fight. Let us trod the right path to change.”

Criticizing the administration of outgoing President Benigno Aquino III for its “hypocrisy” in pursuing talks with the Reds, Sison said he is confident negotiators will smoothly agree on a substantive agenda without delay.

Duterte has designated incoming presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza and incoming labor secretary Silvestre Bello III as government negotiators while NDF leaders Luis Jalandoni and Fidel Agcaoili will represent the communist movement.

Sison also revealed that he will come home as soon as a peace agreement is hammered out between the government and the NDF.

He took note of supposed plots to assassinate him but he said he trusted Duterte to keep him safe while he is in the country.

“Assassination? I will not just rush home without sufficient security guarantees. If I come home and get killed, Duterte will be responsible for that,” Sison said, adding that such security guarantees will be included in the “technicalities” of the peace agreement.

He said he will seek appropriate arrangements with the Philippine and Dutch government.

“I want to make sure of this because I don’t want to be left hanging without a parachute in case something unpleasant again happens in the peace process,” Sison said.

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