'RETURN JOMA'. Anti-communist group Liga Independencia Filipinas holds a rally in front of the Dutch Embassy on Tuesday (Nov. 5, 2019), calling for Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison's return to the Philippines. Last August 28, a Manila regional trial court issued an arrest warrant against Sison and 37 others for their alleged involvement in the 1985 Inopacan Massacre. (PNA photo by Christine Cudis)
MANILA -- Firm in their stance to have Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison take responsibility for the murder raps filed against him, a group of anti-communists staged a rally in front of the Dutch Embassy in Makati City on Tuesday, seeking the latter’s help to return Sison to the country.
“Hinihiling po namin sa Dutch Embassy na itigil na ang pagkupkop sa terroristang si Sison. May arrest warrant na po sya. Bakit ba nandoon pa rin sya? Fair trial naman (We request the Dutch Embassy to stop harboring the terrorist, Sison. He already has an arrest warrant. Why is he still there? Let’s have a fair trial),” said a certain"Ka Dario", spokesperson of Liga Independencia Filipinas.
Last August 28, the Manila Regional Trial Court ordered the arrest of Sison and 37 others for 15 counts of murder. This was brought about by the discovery of a mass grave in Inopacan town, Leyte in 2006.
The skeletal remains supposedly belonged to members of the CPP and the New People's Army (NPA) who were allegedly killed by their comrades in 1985 on suspicion that they were informants or deep penetration agents of the government.
Nolan Tiongco, leader of Liga Independencia Filipinas, said the Philippines needs help from the government of the Netherlands to be freed from the hands of the communist terrorist group.
“Don't allow your country to be a springboard of the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) against our country. We Filipinos have always treated Dutch people and (their) government with utmost respect and civility. We hope that you treat us also that way. Don‘t let yourselves be used,” he added.
Tiongco said the group will be back in front of the Embassy in the next weeks, especially on the day of the anniversary of the Kabataang Makabayan organization.
The Netherlands served as third-party negotiator in peace talks between the government and communist rebels who have waged a five-decade armed insurgency.
President Rodrigo Duterte has ended the peace talks after on-and-off negotiations in 2017 as both sides accused each other of ceasefire violations.
The government now considers communist rebels as terrorists, but the move to formalize this tag is still pending in a local court.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.(PNA)
