The government is considering seeking the help of the Netherlands to extradite communist leader Jose Maria Sison to face murder charges in the country.
A local court recently ordered the arrest of Sison, currently living in exile in the Netherlands, in connection with the so-called Inopacan massacre more than three decades ago.
“Yes, why not. If the Netherland government allows it, eh nasa sa kanila rin iyon,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said when asked if the government can extradite Sison and will coordinate with the Dutch government about his repatriation.
Panelo dismissed Sison’s allegations that the arrest warrant was politically motivated and that he supposedly could not be extradited.
“He always says that naman eh. Ang problema mayroon na siyang warrant, so moot and academic lahat ng mga sinasabi niya,” he said.
“They were given the opportunity to rebut the evidence submitted before the court, or prior to that, the preliminary investigation. Prosecutors found probable cause filed before the Regional Trial Court and the Court finds probable cause, oh eh papaano pa,” he added.
He urged Sison anew to come home and face the music after the court issued an arrest warrant against him. (Genalyn Kabiling)
