Joma Sison passes away at 83 • PhilSTAR Life

Joma Sison, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has passed away at 83.

Marco Valbuena—the CPP Chief Information Officer—announced the news in a statement on Saturday, Dec. 17.

“The greatest Filipino of the past century bereaved us peacefully last night,” he said, adding that the communist leader died at 8:40 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16 after being confined in a hospital in The Netherlands for two weeks.

“The entire Communist Party of the Philippines gives the highest possible tribute to its founding chairman, great Marxist-Leninist-Maoist thinker, patriot, internationalist, and revolutionary leader,” said Valbuena.

The CPP officer said that in this time of mourning, they vow “to continue to give all our strength and determination to carry the revolution forward guided by the memory and teachings of the people’s beloved Ka Joma.”

Under the New People’s Army, the CPP has been clashing with the Philippine government for over 50 years. Sison founded it on Dec. 26, 1968.

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Brooke Villanueva is the deputy editor of PhilSTAR L!fe, covering everything lifestyle—with a focus on food and travel. Apart from her responsibilities as a lifestyle journalist, she is also taking her MBA at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. She has completed a certificate program on the fundamentals of business developed by top faculty at Harvard Business School. Follow her on Instagram at @itsbrookevillanueva.