Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday lashed out at exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison for saying localized peace talks are a “waste” of government funds.

“I consider Sison’s rejection and rant as just a noisy distraction, like the barking of a dog that is best ignored,” Lorenzana said in a statement, noting that Sison’s remarks did not surprise him.