RP welcomes Dutch government vow to extradite Joma

Malacañang welcomed yesterday the Dutch government’s assurance that exiled communist leader Jose Ma. Sison would be repatriated so he could face murder charges before a Philippine court.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a press briefing the Philippine government would extend "fairness and due process" to Sison once he sets foot in the country as a token of gratitude to the Dutch government.

"The Philippine government is a partner of the Dutch government in the fight against terrorism and in upholding law and justice," he said. "We welcome this development. We will deal with this matter with fairness and due process."

Bunye was reacting to a statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople quoting Dutch State Secretary for European Affairs Atzo Nicolai as saying that "the Dutch government is losing interest in Mr. Sison’s antics."

The Netherlands supports the Philippine request for Sison to be turned over to the government in Manila, Ople quoted Nicolai as having said.

Ople said the Dutch government has assured "full cooperation" in turning over Sison to the Philippine government.

With Sison, the Communist Party of the Philippines, and the New People’s Army in the terrorist list of the United States and the European Union, communist rebels would be "pressured" to negotiate peace with the government, Ople added.

Sison, who has been in self-exile in the Netherlands for 16 years, has been charged before the Department of Justice with the murders of Cagayan Rep. Rodolfo Aguinaldo and his bodyguard on June 12, 2001 in Tuguegarao City. – Jose Rodel Clapano