Joma, Tiamzons happy with Duterte use of “revolutionary government”

“Natuwa ako sa paggamit niya ng ‘revolutionary government of the CPP’ sa kanyang press con [I was happy with his use of ‘revolutionary government’ in his press con,” said Jose Maria Sison, Founding Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The third panel-to-panel meeting of the peace talks was held on August 25, the penultimate day of the current round of talks between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) representing the CPP.

Members of the NDFP side watched snippets of President Rodrigo Duterte’s press statement on the Philippine government’s ceasefire with the CPP during a recess.

“It is a recognition from one government to another government,” added Sison.

Sison said that he was happy in particular with Duterte’s public use of the term.

Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were also seen smiling upon hearing the Philippine Chief Executive utter ‘revolutionary government of the CPP.’

“He shows respect and recognizes the legitimacy of the political authority represented by the NDFP,” said Benito Tiamzon.

Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were released on Friday, August 19, to be able to join the Oslo peace talks. They were arrested and detained on murder charges in various Philippine courts and was tagged by military as the Chairperson and Secretary General, respectively, of the CPP.

Duterte addressed the press and the Filipino people at 11:35pm on August 24, Philippine time, to officially declare a ceasefire with the CPP.

“I am declaring a ceasefire, so I’m joining the Communist Party of the Philippines in its desire to seek peace for this nation. Likewise, in the same manner, I am ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines pati ang Pilipinas na pulis [and the Philippine police], as of today, mayroon tayong [we have a] ceasefire. So we avoid hostile actions against each other. We do not go antagonistic behavior in front of whoever,” opened Duterte in his press con.

“And as a matter of fact, I am encouraging people in government, the military and the police to be friendly with the forces of the revolutionary government of the Communist Party of the Philippines in the meantime that we have a ceasefire because of the Oslo talks,” continued Duterte.

The GRP and the NDFP are set to sign a Joint Statement on August 26 on the agreements reached in the August 22 to 26 peace talks in Oslo, Norway.