Former NDFP Chairman Luis Jalandoni Dies at 90 in Utrecht, The Netherlands

Luis Gamboa Jalandoni, former chairman of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), chief peace negotiator, and longtime revolutionary leader, passed away on Saturday, June 7, in Utrecht, The Netherlands. He was 90.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NDFP jointly announced his passing, describing him as “beloved by the masses, a true internationalist, revolutionary leader, and stalwart of peace.”

Jalandoni died around 9:05 a.m. Utrecht time (3:05 p.m. Philippine time) due to illness, according to sources. He passed away in an undisclosed hospital.

A former Catholic priest turned revolutionary, Jalandoni was born into a wealthy landowning family in Negros Occidental on July 16, 1933. Educated at elite Catholic institutions and ordained as a priest of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), he later renounced the privileges of his class and clerical status in favor of joining the national democratic movement. He became known for championing the rights of farmers, workers, and indigenous peoples—causes he embraced following his deepening involvement in social justice advocacy in the 1970s under the Marcos dictatorship.

He went into exile in The Netherlands in the 1980s after the fall of the Marcos regime, and from there, played a critical leadership role in the NDFP. As the chief negotiator of the NDFP in its peace talks with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) from 1995 to 2016, Jalandoni advocated for a just and lasting peace based on addressing the root causes of armed conflict—landlessness, poverty, and systemic inequality.

He was also the NDFP’s vice chairperson for international affairs and headed various international delegations to garner solidarity and support from foreign governments, human rights organizations, and peace advocates worldwide.

Even in exile, Jalandoni remained an iconic figure of the Philippine revolutionary movement, his life marked by unwavering commitment to revolutionary change and the pursuit of peace based on justice.

His decades-long activism reflected a rare personal transformation—from a man of the cloth and privilege to one of the most respected leaders of the armed revolutionary Left in the Philippines.

Tributes have begun pouring in from progressive groups, peace advocates, and international allies, honoring Jalandoni’s legacy as a tireless advocate for national liberation, people’s rights, and dignity.

Further details on memorial services are expected to be announced by the NDFP in the coming days.