Palace not aware of Joma Sison’s supposed coming home in August

June 20, 2018

Malacanang was not aware of a reported plan by Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison to return to the Philippines in August.

"We don't have confirmation on that," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a radio interview on Wednesday.

Roque reiterated that what President Rodrigo Duterte wants is to hold the peace talks in the Philippines "and he is inviting Joma Sison" to come to the country.

He said Duterte has been assuring Sison's security when he returns, as well as the logistics for the peace negotiations to be held in the country.

News reports said National Democratic Front consultant Rey Casambre that Sison would come home in August even if the June 28 resumption of the formal peace talks was canceled by the government.

Sison has been in exile in the Netherlands since 1987 after the peace talks with the Philippine government under then President Corazon Aquino bogged down. Celerina Monte/DMS