By SHERWIN DE VERA
www.nordis.net

VIGAN CITY — The leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA) in Northwest Luzon said the “works and deeds” of Jose Maria “Joma” Sison would continue to produce and guide revolutionaries despite his demise.

Sison, who passed away on December 16 at 83, was the CPP founding chairperson. He was the Chief Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) at the time of his death while in exile in the Netherlands.

“Ka Joma’s six-decade work and deeds have produced and will continue to generate hundreds of thousand Filipino revolutionaries with the capabilities to lead and intensify the people’s war and the united front, establish the democratic organs of political power, and carry forward up to final victory the NDR (national democratic revolution),” the CPP’s Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) said.

The group was responding to the Department of National Defense’s statement that Sison’s death signifies the “crumbling hierarchy of the CPP-NPA-NDF.”

ICRC also called Presidential Adviser on Peace Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.’s declaration that “Sison’s death would put an end to the local communist armed conflict in the country” as “infantile.”

Ilocano inspiration

In an earlier statement, NDFP Ilocos spokesperson Rosa Guidon said Sison is a “great inspiration of the Ilocano masses.”

The late CPP leader was the scion of a landed clan from Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. Several of his ancestors also served in key political positions in the town and province.

Guidon said that despite his family’s background, Sison chose to advance the interest of farmers than serve the ruling class.

“Iniwan niya ang karangyaan ng kaniyang pinagmulang uri. Sa halip na gamitin sa pagsasamantala upang magpayaman, ang mga lupaing mana ni Ka Joma sa Cabugao ay ipinasakamay niya sa mga magsasaka,” the statement said

(He turned his back from the comforts of his class origin. Instead of using the lands, he inherited to exploit and enrich himself, Comrade Joma gave it to the farmers.)

“(S)i Ka Joma ay isang dakilang lider ng rebolusyong Pilipino at ng buong daigdig at hindi matatawarang inspirasyon sa pagpapatuloy at pagpapaigting ng aming rebolusyonaryong pakikibaka dito sa Ilocos,” Guidon added.

(Comrade Joma is a great leader of the Philippine revolution and the whole world and an inspiration for continuing and intensifying our revolutionary struggle here in Ilocos.) # nordis.net