The former university lecturer, who is credited with starting one of the longest Maoist insurgencies in history, passed yesterday in a Dutch hospital after being admitted for two weeks. He was 83 years old.
Since his release from prison following the overthrow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose namesake son was elected president in a May election this year, the exiled communist leader has resided in Europe. Marcos was a dictator whose son is currently president.
The New People’s Army (NPA), the military component of the Philippine Communist Party founded by Sison, has been engaged in one of the longest-running insurgencies in history.
Over 40,000 individuals have died in the battle between the NPA and the Philippine government.
He was designated by the US as “supporting terrorism” as of August 2002. The United States added him on a terrorism watch list, barring him from leaving the country.
In September 2009, the European Union’s second-highest court issued a ruling to remove him from the list of “persons aiding terrorism” and to overturn the member states’ choice to put his assets under asset freeze.
Funeral Arrangements
Details of his burial are yet to be revealed.
