Joma divide
The top-ranking leader of the longest-running communist insurgency in the world passed away ten days before his communist party marks its 54th year on 26 December.
While death is a natural part of life and an unavoidable consequence of aging, the Saturday news on the death of the 83-year-old Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, founding chairperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines, generated dissenting views from all positions in the political spectrum.
Reactions to the death of Sison, who went by the nom de guerre (pseudonym) of Amado Guerrero meaning “beloved warrior” — the name he used as the author of a book manifesto titled “Philippine Society and Revolution”, were quickly issued as early as the morning of the next day.
The Department of National Defense, which described Joma as a stumbling bloc of peace in the Philippines, said he is a symbol of the crumbling hierarchy of the CPP-NPA-NDF (New People’s Army and National Democratic Front), which he founded to violently put himself in power. “
It added that Sison, who had been in exile in The Netherlands for more than 30 years, deprived Filipinos of the opportunity to bring him to justice under the country’s laws for more than five decades of brutal and bloody aggression against the State and the people that led to nothing but destruction and strife for millions of people.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Security Council said Sison’s death is a major blow to the communist organization but presents a chance to end an armed conflict that started when I was still a toddler.
But for allies, including the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, composed party-list groups Gabriela, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, and Kabataan, the CPP leader was a patriot and revolutionary who stood with the Filipino people against oppression, exploitation, and fascism during the Marcos dictatorship.
Days after Joma’s death, he continue to heap praises from some supporters. But not for this former cadre of the CPP-NPA — Arian Jane Ramos.
Ramos is a former secretary of NPA’s Guerilla Front 55 under the Sub-Regional Committee 5 operating in Paquibato District, Davao City.
In her 2nd year as a Communication Arts student at the University of the Philippines in Mindanao, Ramos became a CPP party member. Two years later in 2014, she became a regular NPA member and served until her return to the government fold in 2021.
Her Facebook post on 21 December strikingly speaks of her firm stance that there is no light to enjoy the people’s glory after more than five decades since Joma’s Philippine Democratic Revolution was launched.
“Joma just died, but even he did not see it anymore as it was all promises, dreams that turned into lies,” her post read.
Admitting that she regarded Ka Joma as one of the finest intellectuals the world has ever produced who developed ideas that helped shape the Marxist, Leninist and Maoist ideologies, his attempts to put these theories into practice brought about an era of chaos, bloodshed, and suffering up to this day, especially the unfortunate people whose lives were severely impacted by the communist movement.
“His theories may remain but the Filipinos won’t allow them to prevail,” Ramos said.
Hands Off Our Children, a group of parents who have come together for a campaign that seeks to help families looking for their teenage loved ones who have been recruited by Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, Kabataan Party-list, and other youth groups, are in grief.
Grief, not over Joma’s death, but for the families and children who fell victim to the ideology that he created.
Joma’s theories may have drawn a great divide between his believers and haters but one thing is definite — the father of the CPP is gone. There’ll be no more expected to take the courage to stand side by side with recruits because that leader chose to live a life of luxury and relative safety in a foreign land.
Who’s next to usher the orphaned Reds? Hopefully, to brighter days of peace!
Joma’s theories may have drawn a great divide between his believers and haters but one thing is definite — the father of the CPP is gone.
Her Facebook post on 21 December strikingly speaks of her firm stance that there is no light to enjoy the people’s glory after more than five decades.