Philippines eyes Dutch deal for Joma arrest

THE Philippines will seek a “special arrangement” with the Dutch government for the extradition of Communist Party leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison who has been ordered arrested by a court for murder, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday.

In a statement, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the refugee status of Mr. Sison, who is in self-exile in the Netherlands, has been invalidated by his crimes. “The grounds for the grant of such refugee status to Joma Sison no longer exist and should therefore be revoked.”

While the two countries have no extradition treaty, the Manila may seek mutual legal assistance for the Maoist leader’s arrest.

A Manila court has ordered the arrest of the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines along with his wife and 36 other members of the organization for murder.

The communist leaders were charged for the murder of 15 people in the so-called Inopacan massacre more than three decades ago.

The case stemmed from the purges in Leyte at the height of the communist insurgency in the 1980s. They were charged with murder after skeletons of alleged victims were discovered in a mass grave in Leyte province in central Philippines.

Mr. Sison has called the list of accused “utterly stupid and obviously fabricated,” and noted that he was under detention by the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos during the supposed massacre.

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday said that it will seek the help of the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol for the arrest of Mr. Sison. — Marc Wyxzel C. Dela Paz