Lawmaker wants terror tag on Joma Sison removed

MANILA, Philippines - An opposition senator on Tuesday urged the Arroyo government to endorse the lifting of the terrorist tag on exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison. Senator Francis Escudero said removing the terrorist tag on Sison would break the impasse in the negotiations between the government and the movement Sison founded, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Escudero also urged the Arroyo administration to initiate moves aimed at resuming talks with the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “Perhaps, the best legacy this administration can hand down to our people is to initiate the resumption of talks with main rebel groups which can lead to an enduring truce that will last until next year’s elections," Escudero said in a statement. The senator added that the Philippines “cannot fight a multi-front war." In welcoming Escudero’s recommendation, Sison said the removal of the terrorist tag “would greatly improve the atmosphere for the peace negotiations and would encourage progress of the process in terms of further substantive agreements." “The Arroyo government should heed the advice…of Senator Chiz Escudero," Sison said. - GMANews.TV