MANILA — Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Ma. Sison is the mastermind in the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing that left nine people dead and more than 90 others injured, one of CPP's founding fathers said.
In a documentary produced by Sambayanan, CPP founding member Ruben Guevarra tagged Sison as the one who gave orders to throw grenades at the said gathering.
"Ang Plaza Miranda bombing ay bahagi lamang ng isang serye ng kampanya na ginawa ng CPP. Ito'y bahagi nung sinasabi naming Oplan Big Leap Forward (The Plaza Miranda bombing is only a part of a series of campaign done by the CPP. This is part of what we call Oplan Big Leap Forward)," recalled Guevarra, who was also then part of CPP's Central Committee.
Guevarra said anyone who will reveal the CPP's involvement in the bombing will suffer the highest form of punishment in their organization but added that bombman Danny Cordero himself stands firm on the fact that it was Sison who gave them the command for the bombing.
Guevarra said the CPP also conspired with the government of then-Chinese leader Mao Zedong to wage an armed battle.
"Nung naipakita na namin yung umiral na yung revolutionary situation, may kakayahan na talaga na armado ang NPA na sumagupa, ipagkakaloob na samin ni Cho In Li yung tulong na pinansyal at armaments (When we were able to show a revolutionary situation, and that the NPA was ready to go against an armed battle, then-Chinese Premier Cho In Li would grant us financial help and armaments)." he said.
In the same documentary, former top New People's Army (NPA) commander Victor Corpus corroborated Guevarra's story saying he was the one who gathered the firearms in Isabela.
Guevarra said the fact that the communist struggle lasted for 50 years showed that Filipinos do not want the ideology.
"Huwag na tayong patangay diyan sa sinasabi ng mga komunista, limampung taon na ito (Let us not be swayed by the words of the communists, it has been 50 years), my God," Guevarra added.
Guevarra said the communist ideology is not the solution, as it destroyed Filipino values of being God-centered and family-oriented.
In an earlier statement, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also tagged Sison as the mastermind behind the Plaza Miranda bombing.
In August 1971, Liberal Party members held a miting de avance at the Plaza Miranda where two grenades were thrown at the stage, killing nine people and injuring more than 90, including party leaders. (PNA)
