Sison looks like he has lost control of NPA rebels

“DUTERTE CALLS off truce” went the headline of the banner story of the Inquirer’s July 31 issue, to which Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chair Jose Maria Sison defiantly responded: “We won’t be bullied.”

President Duterte should rethink his position regarding the wisdom of parleying with Sison as the latter’s supposed “warriors” in the Philippines continue to resort to all kinds of lawlessness and banditry.

Sison, who is enjoying a life of relative luxury in the Netherlands, seems to have little control of his combatants in this country. His latest “palusot”—that he has placed his army only under some alert status pending his own declaration of a ceasefire—does ring hollow. So, why is Mr. Duterte still talking to him?

Even as Sison promised to investigate the ambush by communist rebels of the government soldiers returning to their base, Sison was already justifying it. It was a “counteroffensive” against government military forces still conducting operations in Southern Mindanao. To save face, he tried to blame the incident on Mr. Duterte for having failed to rein in his troops below.

Mr. Duterte’s gesture of goodwill was mocked by Sison. The tough-talker was dared to “walk his talk”! Mr. Duterte is backing down. Despite the affront, he is still sending his clueless gofers to Oslo, Norway, later in August for further “negotiations” with the communist leader! Has Mr. Duterte met his match in this game of bluster and one-upmanship?

—DINO M. CAPISTRANO,[email protected]