MANILA — Only the country’s political leadership can decide on whether or not to institute extradition proceedings against Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair, Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, who is in asylum at The Netherlands.
“But in so far as the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is concerned, we are, together with other government agencies under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC), is working for the indictment of Mr. Sison and his cohorts,” said AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo in a message to reporters Monday.
“They must be held to answer for the murder of thousands of their comrades on mere suspicion of being military informants or have expressed desire to go back to mainstream,” he added.
Arevalo said the number of victims, including non-combatant civilians, children, and the elderly, reached more than 80,000 during the CPP’s 50 years of existence.
“The Filipino people whom they have caused innumerable and unbearable sufferings yearns for justice. And the AFP is determined to be an instrument to end this terrorist group,” Arevalo said.
He added that they are exerting all efforts to stop the CPP-NPA and their front organizations from acquiring funds.
“The AFP, together with other agencies of government in the ELCAC, is working diligently to gather and collate pieces of evidence to prove to the EU and Belgium that the funds they are providing end up with CPP-NPA front organizations and underground movement organizations and finance their terrorist activities. (This is) to stop the flow of funds. (These are) The same pieces of evidence necessary to indict and prosecute Mr. Sison of the crimes we have mentioned if and when he has returned to the country and the court acquires jurisdiction over (him) and his cohorts,” the AFP spokesperson said.
The CPP-NPA is listed as terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union.
