Warrants of arrest for Sison and 37 others were issued by Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 32 on 28 August for the so-called “Inopacan massacre” in Leyte. #facecharges #InopacanMassacre #JomaSison

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo. (OPS)

Communist leader Jose Maria Sison should snap back to reality for saying he can overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte and be man enough to face charges filed against him in Philippine courts, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the remark in reaction to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman’s latest statement that he has “absolute protection” from the arrest order issued by a Manila court for his alleged involvement in the “purging” orchestrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) in the 1980s.

“He always says that. The problem is, there is already a warrant. So, everything he is saying is moot and academic,” Panelo told reporters in a Palace briefing.

“They were given the opportunity to rebut the evidence submitted before the court, or prior to that, the preliminary investigation. Prosecutors found probable cause filed before the Regional Trial Court and the court finds probable cause. So, what now?” he added.

Warrants of arrest for Sison and 37 others were issued by Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 32 on 28 August for the so-called “Inopacan massacre” in Leyte.

Sison, however, insists he cannot be extradited from The Netherlands where he has been in self-exile for about three decades now because there is no existing extradition treaty between the Philippines and the Dutch government.

“If the Netherlands government allows it. It’s up to them. But until such time as he faces the music, he already has a problem,” he said.

“He should unchain himself from that illusionary dream of ousting the present dispensation. He’s been doing that for 50 plus years,” Panelo added.