We understand though Mr. Sison has obtained asylum so they are studying what remedies to take given his status

The Department of Justice (DoJ) yesterday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sought the help of the International Legal Cooperation Unit of the department regarding the possible extradition of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison.

“AFP sought the help of our international legal cooperation unit on this matter. Our international legal cooperation unit handles extradition and mutual legal assistance concerns,” said DoJ Undersecretary and spokesman Markk Perrete.

Perete said Sison kas obtained asylum in Utrecht, Netherland thus they are studying remedies to take.

“We understand though Mr. Sison has obtained asylum so they are studying what remedies to take given his status,” Perete said.

Last Friday the AFP said it would coordinate with other concerned agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), DoJ and the international police on the arrest of communist leader Sison.

AFP spokesman Marine Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo in a statement said: “We may not be able to serve the warrant right away as they are outside our jurisdiction. But we are not without recourse.”

Arevalo though said that they are sure that the long arm of the law will soon catch up on Sison and his cohorts.

He expressed elation over the issuance of a warrant of arrest against The Netherlands-based communist leader as well as his wife and 36 others.

Issued last 28 August in connection with the case for the 2006 discovery of a mass grave in Inopacan, Leyte that purportedly contained the bones of victims of the alleged purging by the New People’s Army in the 1980s.

The AFP spokesman promised to continue to go after communist terrorists who perpetrated dastardly, cowardly and devilish acts.

Arevalo said they are as devoted as other agencies of government are in bringing them to the bar of justice and answer for the crime most painful against the bereaved families of the victims who continue to live in a day-to-day anguish.

He also underscored that the communist rebels were committing a “crime against humanity.”

Also ordered arrested aside from Sison, for 15 counts of murder were Rodolfo Salas alias “Ka” Bilog, Leo Velasco, Jose Luneta, Geronimo Pasetes, Prudencio Calubid and Luis Jalandoni, a senior adviser of the CPP’s political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.