Former President Rodrigo Duterte has considered the death of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Joma Sison an ‘end of an era,’ as well as a hope to end the insurgencies in the country.

“His death certainly marks the end of an era, and it is my hope that, with it, the end of insurgencies in the Philippines and the revolutionary movement that he has founded as well,” he said in a statement on Saturday, December 17.

Duterte also recognized Sison with his radical ideas that affected the course of the country's history.

Despite differences, the former president acknowledged their parallel vision of giving a better future for Filipinos.

“While Mr. Sison and I have had many disagreements—especially in the ways in which he chose to pursue and effect change in the country—I would like to believe that, at the end of the day, we shared the same dream of creating a better future for every Filipino,” he added.

In an announcement, the CPP confirmed that Sison passed away last Friday, December 16, at the age of 83 after two weeks of confinement in the hospital.