'RETURN JOMA'. Anti-communist groups stage a protest in front of the Dutch Embassy in Makati City on Feb. 7, 2020 to denounce the violence and atrocities committed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its allies. On the occasion of CPP-NPA-NDF founder Jose Maria Sison's 81st birthday on Friday, the groups also asked the Dutch government to stop harboring the CPP leader and cancel his asylum status in the Netherlands. (PNA photo by Lade Kabagani)
MANILA—Anti-communist groups denounced the longstanding violence and atrocities committed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its allies as they staged a protest anew in front of the Dutch Embassy in Makati City on Friday.
The League of Parents of the Philipines (LPP) and Liga Filipinas Independencia (LFI), Youth for Peace and Development (YPAD) and the Coalition for Peace (COPA) urged the Dutch government to stop harboring CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, cancel his asylum status and let him face the various cases filed against him in the Philippines.
LPP chairman and LFI spokesperson Nolan Tiongco, in an interview, said the Dutch government should remove all forms of protection given to Sison.
“It’s been 52 years long, we are still experiencing the bad effects of communism, violence, and insurgency” he added, noting that Sison has been the root cause of the atrocities committed by the CPP's armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA).
“He has taken refuge in the Netherlands for the past 32 years and enjoyed it so much while our children, our fellow Filipinos and other innocent recruits of the communists are suffering in the mountains,” he added.
He said Sison’s return in the country would give justice to innocent people killed by the CPP-NPA without due process.
“Joma Sison is hiding behind with his poetic and patriotic words, but the truth is, he is a terrorist,” he added, saying it’s time for him to face the murder raps charged against him and “stop commanding the rebels to recruit more members.”
Joma Sison’s book
The anti-communist groups have also condemned the launching of a book titled "Jose Maria Sison, Reflections on Revolution and Prospects", saying it’s one way to promote the wrong ideologies of the communists.
LPP member Dario Sandoval said the book is a "mental poison" to the Filipino people, especially the youth.
“The book contains rebellion, hatred, and other things that could destroy the mind settings of the people. It contains lies, impertinence, and treasons,” he added, noting that the book itself promotes "opposition against the government".
Sandoval urged the people not to patronize the book because “it contains nothing but lies".
Tiongco added that the Dutch government should stop coddling Sison, who celebrated his 81st birthday on February 8.
“This is not to celebrate Joma’s birthday, we gathered here to condemn the Dutch government of coddling someone who is unworthy of a Filipino. For the record, is Joma Sison a Dutch citizen? Regardless of all pronouncement of the Dutch government that he is not a Dutch Citizen, we’ve seen that Joma is enjoying much of his protection and the asylum status while waging war against the Philippine government,” he said.
The members of anti-communist groups said they will not stop rallying both the Dutch and Philippine governments until Sison is sent back to the country and punished for all the atrocities he committed.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
