Sison’s US-backed coup claim just ‘wishful thinking’

On Saturday, Sison issued a statement claiming that the US could influence a coup, after Duterte dared the US to fire the “first shot” against China over the maritime territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. (File Photo: Joma Sison/Facebook)

MANILA — Malacañang on Monday dismissed the claim of self-exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison that the United States could influence the Philippine military to stage a coup attempt against the Duterte administration.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said this is nothing but “wishful thinking” from a “tired, old, failed revolutionary”.

“It is pitiful that this man has to rely on a foreign country to effect a change of leadership in this country. It is an admission, in fact, that their revolution has failed,” Panelo said.

He added that the US will not listen to Sison, because the communist leader himself detests America.

Panelo also expressed confidence that a coup attempt against the administration will not prosper, saying that “Filipinos trust this President; the military and the police trust this President”.

On Saturday, Sison issued a statement claiming that the US could influence a coup, after Duterte dared the US to fire the “first shot” against China over the maritime territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

The CPP along with its armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA) is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (Steffi Ramos, OJT/PNA)