Set aside hubris

“Sison should be reminded that the peace table was overturned after the NPA killed several government forces while the supposed ceasefire is still in place.

Years of being isolated in the Netherlands have made the founder of the communist movement, Joma Sison, the epitome of paranoia as he continues to reject President Rody Duterte’s offer to resume peace negotiations if they are held in the country.

Even Rody’s guarantee that he would not be arrested was not enough to assuage the fears of Joma who tries to depict himself as the salvation of the downtrodden, yet he himself can’t even muster the courage to return home.

Using the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) — which in reality is he and some comrades who are now in their twilight years — as cover, Joma said peace negotiations held in the Philippines would put the process “in the pocket of the Duterte regime and under the control and surveillance of the bloodthirsty military and police who engage in mass murders and other heinous crimes with impunity.”

Along with the outright rejection of Rody’s peace overtures was his unrelenting lie about his claim that “the NDFP had never closed the door to peace negotiations.”

Through some sick propaganda, Joma insisted that it is him and the communist movement which are interested in peace and the government through the military had maneuvered to scuttle the negotiations.

He blamed Rody for the failed negotiations in 2017, which he said was the result of the issuance of Proclamation 360 to terminate negotiations, Proclamation 374 designating the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army (NPA) as “terrorist,” and Executive Order 70 “militarizing and making the government fascist, to mention only the most important anti-peace issuances of the tyrant Duterte.”

EO 70, of course, provided for the effective localization of the peace process and the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which had greatly reduced the strength of the armed rebellion.

Joma was particularly livid at National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon for stating that the NDFP has no choice but to “accept the resumption of peace negotiations in the Philippines.”

He ranted about “fake news, fake community support projects, fake surrenders and fake encounters.”

Nothing can convince Sison of the sincerity of Rody’s offer as he is clouded by the phantom of distrust.

The Palace had said Joma and other communist leaders who he would bring will enjoy temporary liberty upon their return to the Philippines for the possible resumption of the peace process.

The guarantee is as good as it gets since Rody has been known to honor his word. His track record on peace is also beyond question after he made sure that the Bangsamoro Organic Law is put into effect, thus, creating the long-sought semi-autonomous region in Mindanao.

The mere fact that Rody is sending Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello to talk with Joma indicated his commitment to strike a peace deal before he steps down from office in 2022.

Rody referred to his desire to seal an agreement with the communists as his last card, which means that ending the half a century rebellion would be his utmost goal.

“Filipinos are all the same. They do not want revolution, rebellion, chaos, and killings. We all want peace,” Rody goes.

Rody’s spokesman Sal Panelo said Joma should not distrust his fellow Filipinos.

“The place is not important. What is important is the sincerity of each party to talk about peace,” he advised Joma.

It is not for Rody to show good faith since, as President, he could have long forgotten about Sison and had ordered the complete annihilation of the NPA after the scuttling of the talks.

Sison should be reminded that the peace table was overturned after the NPA killed several government forces while the supposed ceasefire is still in place and his demand that all detained communist leaders be released.

Rody, instead, repeatedly extended the hand of peace to Joma who always kept a dagger in his cloak.

When it comes to peace, Rody showed that he is ready to go the long mile.