The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will coordinate with the International Police (Interpol) to arrest Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, who has been on self-exile in the Netherlands, after a Manila court ordered for his apprehension over his alleged involvement in a Leyte massacre three decades ago.
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, said they will also work with concerned government agencies to serve the warrant of arrest issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 against 37 others including Sison’s wife, Juliet, and top National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultants over the infamous Inopacan massacre allegedly perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) in 1985.
“We are elated as the victims’ families are for the issue of arrest warrant by the court against Mr. Jose Ma. Sison, his wife, and 36 others for the mass murder by the NPA of people who were suspected of being government spies,” Arevalo said in a statement Saturday.
“As for those who are, like Mr. Sison, outside the country, we may not be able to serve the warrant right away as they are outside our jurisdiction. But we are not without recourse. We will coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, the International Police and other relevant agencies for the service of the warrant of arrest or other legal recourse available,” he added.
The court issued the warrant of arrest for 15 counts of murder against Sison and 37 others on August 28. A copy of the court order was made available to the media on Friday.
READ MORE: Court orders arrest of Joma, 37 others
The Inopacan massacre, according to Arevalo, claimed the lives of about 300 residents in Leyte province who were allegedly members of the CPP-NPA.
The victims are believed to be killed by their colleagues in a purging activity also dubbed as Oplan “Venereal Disease” on suspicions that they were serving as spies for the military.
In 2006, the military discovered a mass grave in Inopacan town where the skeletal remains of the victims were unearthed.
“This is a crime against humanity. Though it’s too early to claim victory, we are happy for the Filipino people, especially for the families of the victims of this heinous crime, because the wheels of justice shall begin to grind,” Arevalo said.
In a social media post, Sison lashed back at the government and called the Inopacan massacre a “cruel joke” and “fake.”
“The long drawn Inopacan case of ‘walking skeletons’ is a cruel joke at the expense of patriotic and progressive activists,” he said.
“The current news splash about the fake Inopacan murder charge is intended by the Duterte regime to draw away the public attention from the scandalous release of 2,000 criminals convicted of drug trading, murder, rape and other heinous crimes,” he added.
However, Arevalo said the military is “firm” as ever “to hunt down these terrorists who perpetrated these dastardly, cowardly and devilish acts.”
“We are sure that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with Mr. Sison and his cohorts,” he concluded.
“We are elated as the victims’ families are for the issue of arrest warrant by the court against Mr. Jose Ma. Sison, his wife, and 36 others for the mass murder by the NPA of people who were suspected of being government spies,” Arevalo said in a statement Saturday.
“As for those who are, like Mr. Sison, outside the country, we may not be able to serve the warrant right away as they are outside our jurisdiction. But we are not without recourse. We will coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, the International Police and other relevant agencies for the service of the warrant of arrest or other legal recourse available,” he added.
The court issued the warrant of arrest for 15 counts of murder against Sison and 37 others on August 28. A copy of the court order was made available to the media on Friday.
READ MORE: Court orders arrest of Joma, 37 others
The Inopacan massacre, according to Arevalo, claimed the lives of about 300 residents in Leyte province who were allegedly members of the CPP-NPA.
The victims are believed to be killed by their colleagues in a purging activity also dubbed as Oplan “Venereal Disease” on suspicions that they were serving as spies for the military.
In 2006, the military discovered a mass grave in Inopacan town where the skeletal remains of the victims were unearthed.
“This is a crime against humanity. Though it’s too early to claim victory, we are happy for the Filipino people, especially for the families of the victims of this heinous crime, because the wheels of justice shall begin to grind,” Arevalo said.
In a social media post, Sison lashed back at the government and called the Inopacan massacre a “cruel joke” and “fake.”
“The long drawn Inopacan case of ‘walking skeletons’ is a cruel joke at the expense of patriotic and progressive activists,” he said.
“The current news splash about the fake Inopacan murder charge is intended by the Duterte regime to draw away the public attention from the scandalous release of 2,000 criminals convicted of drug trading, murder, rape and other heinous crimes,” he added.
However, Arevalo said the military is “firm” as ever “to hunt down these terrorists who perpetrated these dastardly, cowardly and devilish acts.”
“We are sure that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with Mr. Sison and his cohorts,” he concluded.
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