Joma Sison denies NPA out to harm Pope Francis during PH visit

MANILA, Philippines — Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Ma. Sison has expressed support for Pope Francis and his visit to the Philippines in January next year.

“Pope Francis was chosen to solve the problems within the Church. The church people know this very well. They know he is progressive-minded,” Sison said during a web conference at a forum held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila on Saturday (Dec. 13).

Joma Sison. FILE PHOTO

“He (Pope Francis) is critical and is able to mobilize against the evils of the capitalist system,” he added.

Sison, who currently lives in exile in The Netherlands, also dismissed rumors that the New People’s Army, the military arm of the CPP, was threatening the pontiff’s visit to the country.

He called it “propaganda” of the military.

“They are just inventing things to demonize the revolutionary movement. The revolutionary movement has good relations with the people of the Church,” the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS) chairperson said.

Sison said he recognizes the Pope’s concern and his willingness to visit the survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan).

He added that Pope Francis also speaks against “supertyphoons created by man,” those “exploited and oppressed by the powerful and the rich.”

In his video message, Sison called on the people to support and “spread all the Pope’s statements that are beneficial to the Filipino people.”

He further said that the Pope’s visit next year is “safeguarded and valued” by the CPP, especially since it has good relations with the Church.

“Inside the Church, there remain bad practices by reactionary priests but there are progressive and patriotic priests as well,” he said.

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