Lorenzana slams Joma’s slur vs. military, police

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 22): Lorenzana slams Joma’s slur vs. military, police

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday berated Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria "Joma" Sison for his insulting comments against the military and the police, whom he accused of being behind the cancellation of his representatives' visit to Manila.

"In his recent statement, Mr. Joma Sison said that 'threats have been made by the armed minions of (President Rodrigo) Duterte against Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma. They have therefore decided not to go to Manila.' Mr. Sison is trying his damnedest best to have his subalterns meet with the President and yet, at the same time, throws an insulting remark. This shows his lack of respect for the President," he added.

Also, the term "minion", which Sison used to disparage the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police is insulting as it is a term of contempt.

"It means a servile, fawning, and an unimportant person who is at the beck and call of a powerful person. This is a great insult to our police and military officers and personnel who are doing their jobs with utmost dedication and professionalism in serving the Filipino people," the DND chief added.

Lorenzana also views the remark as an insult to President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Mr. Sison’s insult will only make the police and military dig in and oppose any overtures of peace talks from the National Democratic Front. It is so typical of Mr. Sison to always put the blame on the government for a decision only they themselves made," he added.

The DND chief also emphasized that Jalandoni and Ledesma's refusal to return to the Philippines is not a loss to the government.

"After all, it is not the government that is desperate to resume peace talks with the NDF (National Democratic Front). It is also not to government that is losing a large number of fighters because of the effectiveness of the localized peace talks and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP)," he added.

Lorenzana stressed that E-CLIP has reaped successes in just four months since its implementation through the convergence of assistance from national and local government agencies working together under the banner of Task Force "Balik-Loob".

"Ang higit na mahalaga sa amin ay ang pagbabalik sa lipunan ng mga natitira pang miyembro ng CPP-NPA at Militia ng Bayan, lalo na ngayong Pasko, upang mamuhay nang mapayapa at maligaya sa piling ng kanilang minamahal na pamilya (What is important to us are the return of the remaining CPP-NPA members to the fold of law, especially this Christmas, for them to be able to live a peaceful and happy life with their families)," the DND chief added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1054609