Sison to get pass if he comes home

Malacañang will provide Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison "immunity and security guarantee" if he voluntarily returns to the country and joins the peace negotiations with the government.

Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Eduardo Ermita said the government may defer the serving of the warrant for Sison’s arrest "if he (Sison) will give an assurance that he will be talking peace with the government."

Ermita made the assurance following the offer made by Foreign Secretary Blas Ople that he will work for the removal of Sison, the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), from the list of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) if they agree on signing a peace agreement with the government.

Ople said Sison and the rest of the CPP-NPA leaders will be granted "total and absolute amnesty."

Sison, who has been in self-exile in the Netherlands for 16 years, was accused of the murder of Cagayan Rep. Rodolfo Aguinaldo and his bodyguard on June 12, 2001.

"As a confidence building measure, the government will not serve the warrant for his (Sison’s) arrest through the agreement on immunity and security guarantee for the consultants of NDF," Ermita said.

Earlier, Silvestre Bello III, head of the government peace panel, stated they will not talk to Sison since he is not among those the panel is negotiating with for the peace talks.