I DO not know why Jose Ma. Sison still makes it to the front pages even if his statements proceed from plain hallucination.
His recent declaration is that for the year 2019 the main agenda of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army’s (CPP-NPA) is to oust President Duterte. Funny and pathetic because since day one of his trip to the fantasy land, where he wished to establish his communist-inspired and controlled government, he had always conspired with the disciples of political romanticism and took advantage of others who cannot accept the choice of the majority and in the process connive with the likes of Joma.
Joma is out of touch with reality and it does not help that he had long been out of the country. He professes to fight for but is too scared to come back to lead a weary army who still believe in his utopian dream. Either that or he cannot abandon the good life in the Netherlands.
He blames the Duterte government for abandoning the peace talks when for nearly half a century all the past administrations, including Cory Aquino who let him free from prison, wooed him to come back and participate in a free political process. The government even bent back and decriminalized communism giving rise to left-leaning politicians, many of whom find home in the party-list system.
Joma never had the better opportunity to talk peace than with the Duterte government. Recall that at the height of the presidential campaign in 2016, the then Davao City mayor was even accused by his rabid political adversaries as a commie protector.
For the record though, the mayor was in and out of NPA lairs to rescue prisoners of war and sometimes bring foodstuffs to the guerillas. If there is any political leader who meant well and true to his desire for a normal life for the rebels, it is this man Duterte.
But peace and normalcy does not hinge on the frivolous mind of Jose Ma. Sison. There’s a street lingo for that: “Kung ayaw mo, huwag mo” (If you don’t want it so be it).
And so the man whom Sison wants to oust from Malacañang started with a new initiative--localized peace talks.
Already this has gained headway as hundreds of NPA rebels have come back to the folds of the law, were given lands to till and housing units, including a huge some of money to start them off in exchange for their firearms.
Joma wants to oust Duterte, some Catholic bishops pray that he get sick and die while Loida Lewis has not given up on her hopes that he will step down or be ousted to have Vice President Leni Robredo take over.
But how can this phantasmagoria come to a fruition when a huge majority of the Filipinos either describe Duterte as “very good” or “excellent” while hundreds of rebels are coming down from the jungles to be reunited with their families as opportunities that await them?--from SunStar Davao