The death of founding Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chairman Jose Maria 'Joma' Sison meant that the "great stumbling block of peace" to the Philippines is now gone, according to the Department of National Defense (DND).
In a statement on Saturday, DND said his passing symbolizes the crumbling hierarchy of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
“His death deprived the Filipino people of the opportunity to bring this fugitive to justice under the country's laws. Sison was responsible for the deaths of thousands of countrymen. Innocent civilians, soldiers, police, child and youth combatants died because of his bidding," it underlined.
DND on Joma Sison’s death: The greatest stumbling block of peace for the Philippines is gone; let us now give peace a chance. | via RH08 @christianmano_ pic.twitter.com/nFbCV3nhM1
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) December 17, 2022
The department appealed to the few remaining Sison’s believers to renounce the group’s "violent and false ideology."
"Five decades of brutal and bloody aggression against the state and the Filipino people have led to nothing but destruction and strife for thousands of Filipinos. A new era without Jose Maria Sison dawns for the Philippines, and we will all be better for it," the DMD said.
The CCP announced on Saturday morning that its founder has passed away at the age of 83.
Sison died after being confined in a hospital located in Utrecht, The Netherlands for almost two weeks.
