PNP looking at 3 to 5 personalities as next possible CPP leader

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it is looking at three to five personalities who may take over as the new leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) following the death of its founding chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison.

PNP Public Information Office chief Police Colonel Redrico Maranan, however, said he cannot divulge the names of these personalities as of now.

“Meron po tayong personality na tinitingnan. Kung hindi po ako nagkakamali ay mayroong tatlo hanggang lima na tinitignan tayo, subalit sa ngayon I am not at liberty to divulge those names dahil patuloy pa nating pinag-aaralan,” Maranan said at a televised public briefing.

(We are looking at some personalities. If I am not mistaken, we are looking at three to five personalities. But as of now I am not at liberty to divulge those names because we are still studying them.)

Sison, 83, passed away on the evening of December 16 in The Netherlands where he was on self-exile. An activist, he founded the leftist revolutionary organization CPP in December 1968.

CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena, who announced Sison's death, earlier said the CPP will continue "to carry the revolution forward guided by the memory and teachings of the people's beloved Ka Joma."

The CPP has been waging an insurgency rebellion against the Philippine government along with its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) and political arm the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) for over five decades. —KBK, GMA Integrated News