(Eagle News)—Communist Party of the Philippines founder Joma Sison said he was willing to end his exile in The Netherlands and talk peace.
In a radio interview on Monday, April 23, Sison said, however, that peace negotiations should be sufficiently pushed and that these were “not easily upset by peace spoilers.”
By peace spoilers he said he meant players within the military who would benefit with ongoing skirmishes between the government and the communist rebels.
Sison, who has been in exile for 31 years, said that within the 60-day window President Rodrigo Duterte gave, issues about a ceasefire agreement and amnesty for political prisoners and their release should be discussed.
He said issues on agrarian reform under the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER) should also be talked about.
Sison made the statement days after President Duterte reiterated his invitation for Sison to come home and talk peace.
“Ako magbigay ng pamasahe, I will pay for all your billeting and pagkain,” Duterte said.
He said that he would order the military to stand down during the 60-day period.
He did not say, however, when this would start.