Sison made the response as his reaction to news reports that President Duterte is eyeing July as the possible month for the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Reds

During their back-channel talks in the Netherlands, negotiators from the government and the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) agreed that military and rebel forces would stand down as early as next week before the two sides resumed formal peace talks, according to Sison

Latest suggestion from the GRP is to start the stand down on June 21 instead of June 14. The exact date will be known only from the joint announcement to be made by the GRP and NDFP on or about June 9.

Sison, now serving as NDFP chief political consultant, made the declaration in response to President Duterte’s warning that if the talks fail, it could lead to the resumption of the war between government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas, the CPP armed wing.

“For sure I shall return to the Philippines after the signing of the interim peace agreement, which is already being prepared for June, and the subsequent mutual approval of the comprehensive agreement on social and economic reforms by the GRP and NDFP either in July or August,” Sison said.

Sison in a statement on Saturday, May 26, bared NDFP’s plan for him to meet with Duterte at the signing of the Interim Peace Agreement that includes a ceasefire agreement and the long-standing demand for an amnesty proclamation for around 500 political prisoners in the country.

As initially agreed, President Rodrigo Duterte was set to attend the signing of the interim peace agreement. However, Sison said the government side "backed out and offered" Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to represent Duterte.

AMSTERDAM—Exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison on Friday said he was willing to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte either in Oslo, Norway or Hanoi, Vietnam—not in the Philippines—for the signing of an interim peace agreement, which both sides are still trying to hammer out for next month.