DAVAO CITY, Philippines – National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison has branded President Rodrigo Duterte as inventor of a cock-and-bull story and emphasized that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will not discriminate women and LGBT in the recruitment of fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Sison made a statement on Sunday in response to Duterte’s claim that his son, Sebastian was recently molested by NPA fighters.
“The men, women, and LGBT are qualified to become Red commanders and fighters as long as they are 18 years old and older, and are able-bodied, have the revolutionary commitment and are willing to undertake politico-military training, to do mass work and to fight with firearms”, Sison emphasized.
He added that Duterte is exposing his misogynist and anti-gay character with the claims on Saturday last week during the PDP-Laban campaign rally in Laguna that 40% of the NPA’s are gay and his son, Sebastian was reputedly molested during the turn-over of the two soldiers and six militiamen held captive for months in the hinterlands of Barangay San Juan, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur on February 19.
PDP-Laban stands for Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (Philippine Democratic Party-Power of the Nation), the ruling political party in the country under the administration of President Duterte.
Duterte said that his son, Baste was brought into a coconut grove and kissed by 4 members of the NPA.
He asked if he was abused to which Baste replied yes claiming that the communist rebels kissed him.
Sison said that Duterte has obviously invented the story that gays in the NPA brought his son Baste to the woods to be subjected to kissing, mashing and other acts amounting to molestation.
“There is strict NPA rule of discipline against sexual molestation and sexual liberties against the will of others. It is up to the NPA command concerned to inform us how Baste was treated. If indeed anyone in the NPA molested or took liberties with Baste, they would be facing disciplinary action”, he added.
Sison finds Duterte’s joke unbelievable that 40% of the NPA’s are gays when armed revolutionaries reveal their momentary location only when they are ambushing or raiding government troops.
“How can he make such a survey finding when his military and police minions cannot locate the thousands of Red commanders and fighters in more than 110 guerrilla fronts?”Sison asked. (davaotoday.com)
