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| Anti-communist groups, including former members of the New People's Army (NPA), hold a rally condemning the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-New People’s Army (NPA) / photo from PNA |
Manila, Philippines – Around 8,000 rallyists belonging to various multisectoral groups assembled on Thursday in different areas in Luzon to condemn the atrocities of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as the CPP marks its 51st year on Dec. 26.
About 8,700 protesters, came
together in five areas in Metro Manila and two areas in Laguna and Angeles City,
Pampanga, asking the government to start the extradition treaty between the
Netherlands and Philippines, in an effort to send exiled CPP founder Jose Maria
"Joma" Sison back the Philippines.
"Joma doesn't have any status in the
Netherlands anymore. He has no passport and visa so why is he still being
coddled there?" Arlene
Escalante said, League of Parents in the Philippines (LPP) spokesperson, pertaining
to Sison who has been in self-exile in the Netherlands since 1987.
For Escalante, CPP-NPA
members, should not have its 52nd anniversary.
“This communist group is nonsense. It's just a
waste of battle and killing of our citizens and children (persists) for over 50
years. It should be stopped now," she added.
Sison's return to the
Philippines could help stop the terroristic attacks perpetrated by the
communist terrorist groups, according to Escalante.
More groups will
continue to hold rallies in front of the Dutch Embassy as a show of force for
the Dutch government to act on the extradition, the LPP spokesperson said.
Recently, protesters
which included former members of the NPA gathered at the EDSA Shrine, wore
masks of Sison and Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate with devil horns,
as they demanded the return of the CPP founder back to the Philippines to face
charges against him.
In Parañaque City, even
Southern Police District (SPD) Director Nolasco Bathan painted on the face of
Sison, as protesters rallied the public to support the government
counterinsurgency campaign.
These protesters held simultaneous
rallies at Bonifacio Monument, Liwasang Bonifacio in Plaza Lawton, along
Service Road corner Roxas Blvd in Parañaque, EDSA Shrine corner Ortigas Avenue
in Pasig City, Commonwealth corner University Avenues in Diliman, Quezon City,
Crossing in Calamba City, Laguna, and Salakot, Balibago in Angeles City,
Pampanga, to raised their concerns about the recruitment schemes by militant
youth groups in schools.
"Many of our youths have been recruited and
are being sent to the mountains," Escalante said.
Escalante assured that the LPP will fully support
the government's campaign to end the more than 50 years of communist armed
conflict. As mothers of recruited students decry the activities
communist-front groups, begging the latter to return the children back to their
families.
"10
years from now, I hope and I pray there will be no more CPP-NPA members
celebrating another anniversary. The insurgency must be stopped now. We're not
just fighting for our country, we're also fighting for our children," Escalante
added.
The CPP-NPA-NDF is listed as a terrorist organization by the
United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand,
and the Philippines.
Source: PNA
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