Former NDFP chair Luis Jalandoni, 90

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) announced the passing of former National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) chair Luis “Louie” Jalandoni on Saturday, June 8. He was 90 years old.

In a statement, CPP said “Ka Louie” died peacefully surrounded by his wife and family on June 7 at 9:05 a.m. (3:05 p.m. in Manila) in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Ka Louie Jalandoni, beloved by the masses, a true internationalist, revolutionary leader and stalwart of peace,” the CPP said

“We express our condolences to Ka Louie’s family, whose love, strength, and support accompanied him through decades of service to the Filipino people’s revolutionary cause,” it added.

Jalandoni was a Roman Catholic priest in Negros Occidental and cofounded the Christians for National Liberation in 1972. This underground revolutionary organization aimed to unite Church members and pushed for progressive causes.

The CPP stalwart left the priesthood in 1974 and married Coni Ledesma, former nun and school principal who he was once arrested with in 1973. They had one son Jose Edmundo, and two grandchildren.

Jalandoni served as NDFP chair from 1989 and was key in leading peace negotiations with the government until his last year as chief in 2016.

In 2022, he was listed under the Duterte administration’s terrorist list with other members of the CPP, New People’s Army and NDFP.