Joma Sison denies he has rare bone marrow disease

Joma Sison. FILE PHOTO

Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Ma. Sison denied Saturday that he has a rare bone marrow disease as earlier claimed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I do not have any rare bone marrow disease. I do not know how President Duterte got that notion,” Sison said in a statement.

In a speech on Friday, Duterte said he wanted Sison, who is on exile in The Netherlands, to come home due to his disease.

“I said Sison can go home here. I will guarantee his safety and freedom. He will be free to walk around, may sakit na eh. Hayaan mo (He is sick. Just let him be). Sison is seriously sick. He has a rare—something to do with—not leukemia—but sa (in the) bone marrow. Parang ganoon na rin (It’s similar to that). Come home. I’ll pay for the hospital,” he said at 25th AFAD Defense and Sporting Arms Show in Davao City.

READ: Duterte: Joma is ‘very sick’

But Sison refuted Duterte’s statement.

“I am now in good health. I have been out of the hospital since March 30,” he said.

“I was able to attend the fourth round of formal talks, and I shall be able to attend the forthcoming fifth one,” he said.

The fourth round of talks was held from April 2 to 6 in The Netherlands while the fifth round of peace talks will be on May 27 to June 1 in the same country. IDL