DOJ seeks terrorist tag on CPP, NPA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice on Wednesday filed a petition for the Manila Regional Trial Court to declare the communists as terrorists.

 

In its petition filed before the executive clerk of court, DOJ prosecutors asked the court to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army as terrorists, citing Section 17 of the Human Security Act.

 

The law states that the proscription of the any organization as outlawed and terrorist groups should be applied by the DOJ before the RTC.

 

 

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong in the petition cited several attacks by the NPA on the government from April to December 2017, despite the ongoing peace talks with the government.

 

"From the foregoing, respondents CPP and NPA are merely buying time by deceiving the Philippine government in entering into peace talks, while their main purpose is to mobilize all their forces in preparation for the 'people's war' aimed at overthrowing the duly constituted authorities, seizing control of the Philippine government and imposing a totalitarian regime," the DOJ's petition read.

 

"Thus, there is no other time to put an end to their deception, to their 'protracted people's war,' and to their evil plan of imposing a totalitarian regime, but through the filing of this petition, and consequently, by declaring respondents CPP and NPA as terrorist and outlawed organizations, associations, and/or group of persons," it added.

 

 

The DOJ filed the petition following President Rodrigo Duterte's termination of the peace talks with the communists. Government prosecutors have also sought the cancellation of communist peace negotiations' bail as they face a multiple murder trial before the Manila RTC in connection with the communist purge.