PNP to seek Interpol’s help to arrest Joma Sison
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police said it will seek the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for the arrest of communist leader Jose Maria Sison, who has been on self-exile in The Netherlands for some three decades now.
In a press briefing Tuesday, PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said the police is set to ask the Interpol to issue a red notice against Sison, who is facing murder charges in the Philippines along with 37 other communist leaders.
The country’s top cop said the PNP would coordinate with the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime for the request.
Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 issued the arrest warrant for 15 counts of murder against Sison, his wife Juliet and other communist leaders in connection with the so-called Inopacan massacre in 1985.
The Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair called the list of accused “utterly stupid and obviously fabricated” for including the names of those in prison at the time of the alleged massacre and those who are already dead.
Red notice
A red notice, according to Interpol, is a “request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action.”
Once the PNP submits its request for red notice, Interpol—through a specialized task force—will check it.
Interpol stressed that a red notice is an international wanted persons notice but it is not an international arrest warrant. It also emphasized that individuals covered by red notices are not wanted by Interpol, but by requesting countries or international tribunals.
“Interpol cannot compel the law enforcement authorities in any country to arrest someone who is the subject of a red notice. Each member country decides what legal value it gives to a red notice and the authority of their law enforcement officers to make arrests,” it said on its website.
Political asylum
Sison and his wife have been on exile in The Netherlands since 1987. He is a recognized political refugee in The Netherlands and enjoys the protection of the Geneva Refugee Convention and Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Albayalde said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is working to have Sison’s refugee status revoked.
“Once it is revoked and we have the red notice, he can be arrested there,” Albayalde said in Filipino. — Gaea Katreena Cabico
- Latest
- Trending
