‘Joma not covered by RP laws’

BAGUIO CITY – The National Democratic Front (NDF) has shrugged off the reported conviction of self-exiled communist chief Jose Ma. Sison and three others for rebellion, saying his refugee status shields him from Philippine laws.

"He (Sison) cannot be convicted and sentenced for rebellion for the simple reason that he is outside of the jurisdiction of the Philippine state and that he is under the protection of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Refugee Convention," NDF chairman Fidel Agcaoili said.

Sison and Agcaoili have been living in exile in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

But Agcaoili said Sison may be tried in the Philippines if authorities "gain custody of his person and present him to the appropriate court for arraignment."

Last week, a Davao City court sentenced Sison and three female communist guerrillas to 14 years in prison for rebellion. – Artemio Dumlao