NATIONAL | Joma Sison hits Duterte for comparing self to Rizal

Joma Sison, Jose Rizal and Duterte

MANILA - National Democratic Front chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison on Monday lashed out at President Rodrigo Duterte for comparing himself to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

At a news conference in Davao City on Friday, Duterte said he preferred to be executed the way Rizal was shot and killed by Spanish authorities in 1896 if he would be found guilty by the International Criminal Court.

"As a veteran teacher of Rizal´s life and works in social science, I consider Duterte completely shameless in comparing himself to Rizal. Duterte is a traitor and blatant puppet to foreign interests, a self-confessed murderer at the age of 16, an ever vocal instigator of mass murder and framing up suspects and a narcissist driven by greed for power and wealth," Sison said in a Facebook post.

Sison also referred to former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and Attorney Mans Carpio's alleged involvement in illegal drugs and smuggling.

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"He deserves to be called the narco-president or the highest drug lord for letting his own son and son-in-law and close friends (Peter Lim of Cebu and the Davao group) fragrantly engage in drug smuggling and wholesale distribution of prohibited drugs and for having protected all narco-governors and narco-generals after subordinating them to himself," Sison said.

Duterte is facing a complaint for crimes against humanity before the ICC in connection with the thousands of deaths blamed on his campaign against illegal drugs.

“If you convict me, find a country that promotes death penalty and kill me by a firing squad. I would be very happy to face them,” Duterte said was quoted as saying.

“It would be a distinct honor for me because our foremost hero, Mr. Rizal, he’s our greatest hero…he was shot by the Spaniards on that spot [in Rizal Park and] his monument is [there] right now because of his defiance,” he added.

Sison said Rizal was martyred and died a hero "for his writings against Spanish colonialism and for being held by the colonial authorities accountable for the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution of 1896."

"In comparison, Duterte is now being investigated by the ICC on the charge of mass murder, butchering thousands of his impoverished countrymen either suspected or simply maligned as drug users and pushers," Sison said.

GMA News Online is still trying to get Malacañang's reaction as of posting time.

Duterte and Sison's relationship soured after the Philippine government cancelled the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-NDF. —NB, GMA News