CEBU CITY鈥擣ormer communist rebels and members of cause-oriented groups on Monday gathered in the country鈥檚 oldest street to call for an end to the country鈥檚 insurgency problem.
Around 50 individuals joined what they called a 鈥減eace rally,鈥� walking from Plaza Independencia to Colon Street in downtown Cebu City as the rebel group marked its 54th anniversary.
Participants called on rebels to return to the fold of the law as they also remembered suspected communist rebels killed during armed encounters with government troopers.
Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., a self-confessed former rebel, hoped that the death of Jose Maria Sison, founder and ex-chairperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), would bring lasting peace to the country.
Sison, 83, passed away on December 16 in the Netherlands, where he has lived as a political refugee since 1987.
The communist group marked its 54th anniversary on Monday, Dec. 26.
Alcover condemned the activities of the CPP-New People鈥檚 Party which brought lawlessness in the country.
The former rebel stressed that engagement with the communist groups would not do any good.
鈥淲e hope to find peace with the passing away of their founder,鈥� Alcover said.
Former members of the communist group in Cebu started their 鈥減eace rally鈥� at 9 a.m. before they ended the program an hour later.
Organizers said they expected about 500 people to join the rally but failed to achieve the number due to the bad weather and communication problems.
While only a few people joined the rally, Alcover said it was not about the numbers but the message that they were able to convey.
鈥淗opefully, members of the communist group will realize what they are into so that we will achieve freedom and give our country a good future,鈥� he said.
鈥淪o hopefully, they (communist rebels) will surrender because the government is willing to help them,鈥� Alcover added.
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