Joma: Duterte more arrogant

From GMA News (Aug 6): Joma: Duterte more arrogant

Exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison on Saturday hit back at President Rodrigo Duterte who called him arrogant before a gathering of soldiers in Capiz on Friday.

Interviewed by reporters via Skype, Sison turned the tables on Duterte by criticizing the tough-talking leader's move to lift the unilateral ceasefire on July 30 even before the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) could match it with its own truce declaration.

"It is more arrogant of him to give ultimatum [for CPP to declare ceasefire]," Sison said.

Also on Friday, Duterte mocked the CPP's strength, saying the rebels were acting as if “they are the force to reckon with.”

The President said CPP-backed candidates in Davao wouldn't have won in the elections if not for his party's support.

Despite Duterte's tirades, Sison said he has "high level of tolerance" for sharp rhetoric.

"I would rather converse with President Duterte sometime or one one one and we talk about the most substantial matters that would move the peace negotiations forward," he added.

National Democratic Front peace panel chair Luis Jalandoni, meanwhile, said that they did not heed Duterte's ultimatum due to alleged human rights abuses by the military in Southern Mindanao while the government ceasefire was in effect.

The unilateral ceasefire declared by Duterte in his first State of the Nation Address lasted only from July 25 to July 30.

A collective decision must also be reached before the rebels reciprocate Duterte's ceasefire initiative, Jalandoni explained.

He also said that the NDF may consider asking for a postponement of the talks , which would depend on the release of its consultants who would be part of its negotiating panel.

"The NDF peace side with its consultants will reconsider whether it is better to postpone again the resumption of peace talks to give time to get the releases actually accomplished," he said.

Meanwhile, Sison said that his confidence in the government's peace panel would increase if all 500 political detainees will be released through a general amnesty proclamation.

He said the communist movement will likely leave the negotiating table if the the detained political consultants of the NDF will not be released.

Tough talk

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan also hit Duterte's style in talking peace with the communists.

"With due respect to the President, sincerity and seriousness in peace negotiations is not measured in terms of tough talk nor via temporary ceasefire declarations," said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. in a statement.

Reyes said the "real measure" would be the upholding of previously signed agreements and the forging of new agreements on substantive agenda such as socio-economic, political and constitutional reforms.

"These are the discussions on how to end the decades-long problems of poverty, landlessness, underdevelopment, unemployment, elite democracy and so on. We would like to see both sides of the armed conflict get down to work on these issues as soon as possible," he added.

The government and communist rebels will resume negotiations on August 20 in Oslo, Norway. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/576617/news/nation/joma-duterte-more-arrogant