JOMA SISON TO FILIPINOS: Ang Coronavirus Lockdown ay Para Takutin Ang Mga Tao

By the beginning of March news contents have been about the increasing number of Filipinos infected with coronavirus (covid-19). President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has taken several steps to counter the rapid spread of the disease. Some of these include suspension of classes for one month and placing the entire Luzon under community quarantine.

President Duterte also appealed to the communist rebels to stop fighting the government first and to help covid the 19.

“You NPAs, do you love the government? 'If not, help. Distancing don't touch our soldiers yet. What do we do first is, ceasefire. I'm asking, let us have a ceasefire… If you really want that we will be at all times on talking terms, in this time of crisis, kindly cooperate and help. It's better to help first. I will repay you with a good heart in the coming days, ”said President Duterte.

(“Kayo bang mga NPA nagmamahal kayo sa gobyerno? ‘Pag hindi, tumulong kayo. Distancing at huwag na ninyo muna galawin ang mga sundalo. Ano muna tayo, ‘yung ceasefire lang. Ceasefire muna tayo. Ako na ang naghihingi, ceasefire… If you really want that we will be at all times on talking terms, in this time of crisis, kindly cooperate and help. Mas mabuti pa tumulong muna kayo. I will repay you with a good heart in the coming days,” said Duterte.)

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo also explained the benefits of the ceasefire.

“Through this ceasefire, the Philippine Government aspires that the swift provision of public health assistance goes unimpeded and that the movement of health workers and medical supplies to communities, as well as of peoples in need of immediate medical attention, remains unhampered,” said Sec. Panelo.

But in a statement, Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison responded to the government's appeal for the ceasefire. Instead of responding and working together to curb the spread of the disease, he accused the government of not being sincere in the ceasefire offer.

“The ceasefire declaration by the Duterte regime is premature, if not insincere and false. The militarist lockdown on the whole of Luzon is meant not to fight the covid-19 pandemic but to intimidate the people, suppress democratic rights, commit human rights violations and prevent the working people from going to their workplaces, ”said Sison.

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