Peace rally vs Reds today

The anti-communist Hands-Off Our Children Movement Inc. is set to hold a peace rally in time for the 54th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines today.

"We remember and mourn for the deaths of over 50,000 Filipinos because of their futile mass revolution against the government," HOOCM chairperson Elvie Caalaman said in a text message to the Daily Tribune on Sunday.

Caalaman said the group is adamant to seek justice against the atrocities and human rights violations committed by the CPP and its armed wing New People's Army along with its political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines — killings of thousands of innocent Filipinos and their comrades.

The group vowed it will never stop fighting against CPP-NPA-NDF despite the death of its founding chairperson Jose Maria "Joma" Sison.

"We mourn for the families and children who fell victim to the ideology that he created. We, in the Hands Off Our Children Movement, mourn that he died without facing all the crimes that he committed.

Yes, he might escape justice to face the lack of humanity but we believe he will be facing the highest court of our almighty in heaven. Justice will prevail," it said in a statement.

Caalaman said all members of their group believe that Sison does not deserve any tribute and his "cremated body" should remain in his safe haven — in the Netherlands.

"We also strongly oppose the return of the ashes of the terrorist leader Sison in our country," she said.

Caalaman emphasized that the public should always remember "every single youth who sacrificed their lives in the name of the wrong ideology" imparted by Sison, especially his push for armed struggle and senseless revolution in the countryside.