By Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
MANILA – Military officials on Wednesday dismissed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria “Joma” Sison’s allegations that Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief of staff for civil-military operations, Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., is “brazen liar” for claiming that some militant organizations in the country are communist fronts.
“Between the two of them, (General) Parlade Jr. and Mr. Jose Sison, as to who is the “brazen liar”, the latter definitely qualifies with flying colors,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said.
“Mr. Sison has been in the business of prevarication since the CPP has been founded. The Party was able to survive for decades by perfecting the art of deception and perjury. So excellently that Mr. Sison himself believed his falsehood,” he added in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Sison earlier called Parlade a “brazen liar” for claiming that patriotic and progressive organizations in the Philippines are communists for merely communicating with him as International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) chairperson.
He added that the communication is merely an invitation for the 6th international assembly of the ILPS in Hongkong on June 23 to 26.
According to the IPLS website, “The Assembly Registration Fee is USD$ 350 and covers food and accommodation for the duration of the 6th Assembly (5 nights, four days) along with assembly materials and transport to and from Hong Kong International Airport.”
Meanwhile, AFP public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato, said Sison’s claim against Parlade is a “fallacy.”
“Argumentum ad hominem. He is attacking the man instead of answering the issues and accusations. He must premise his arguments and answers based on logic and facts not on the circumstances of the man. But, with his age and his ignorance of the current situation in the Philippines, we have to understand his predicament,” Detoyato said.
Parlade, on the other hand, said 50 years of lying has made Sison think that what he is saying is true.
“Fifty years of scamming people and organizations of funds that could have been put to better use like legitimate schools to educate children rather than radicalize and recruit them to become child warriors, agricultural assistance to farmers rather than combat boots for your Red fighters, genuine educational materials rather than radical literatures and manuals for future rebels. Billions wasted by you, Joma, for your lost cause, and fake advocacies,” he added.
Sison is the founding chairman of the CPP, which along with its armed wing, he New People’s Army, has been listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.
