Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday called Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison an “armchair general,” saying the rebel leader has lost touch with his men after at least 8,000 of them surrendered to the government this year.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Lorenzana recognized how good a leader Sison was when he founded the CPP-New People’s Army, especially when they reached their peak in the 1980s.
“How is the leadership of Joma now? Matagal naman ‘yang wala sa Pilipinas eh. I think he left the Philippines in 1990s, 87 no, 1987, and he has not come back here. Is he still attuned with what’s happening on the ground? I don’t think so,” he said.
“Panay ang yakyak niya doon pero hindi niya nakikita ang nangyayari sa lupa eh. And he makes himself relevant by having the peace talks in Norway. Tanggalin mo yan mawalan siya ng relevance diyan,” he added.
According to Lorenzana, he has more respect for the rebels on the ground even if they are fighting the government.
“Ang tawag ko diyan, kung sa heneral, armchair general. Hindi na siya lumalabas sa ano niya, sa upuan niya, direct lang ng direct, it is not very effective,” he said.
“I have more respect dito sa fighters niya dito sa baba kahit na nakakalaban namin sila. I have more respect to them than to him. Kasi sila nandito eh, sila naghihirap, sila nag-aano diyan. They have their own set of ideas that we are trying to fight with our own better ideas,” he added.
According to Lorenzana, some 8,000 rebels surrendered to the government this year as a result of the localized peace talks. He said rebels are now surrendering because the issues that are being capitalized by the CPP-NPA are now being addressed by the government.
“Buong taon, 8,000 na ‘yung bumaba at ito ay binibigyan natin ng kaukulang assistance from the government like housing, yung livelihood nila, schooling of their kids, medical care,” he said.
He said that the landless are now given lands and that former rebels are being trained by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Lorenzana added that farmers are being assisted by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry is going around to spur the investments in their areas. (Argyll Geducos)