Petition won’t hinder peace talks

MANILA, Philippines — Filing a petition seeking to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as a terrorist group will not hinder the resumption of peace talks with the government, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said yesterday.

The Department of Justice on Wednesday filed before the Manila regional trial court a petition seeking to declare as terrorists the CPP and its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA).

Aguirre said once the court grants the petition, the government would be able to freeze or sequester the assets of the organizations and its members, but the filing of the petition “would not cause problems” on the possible return of the government and the CPP to the negotiating table. 

Aguirre explained that President Duterte only terminated the peace talks because Duterte believed that the NPA were not sincere in putting an end to the decades-old conflict. 

“We also consider the act of collecting revolutionary taxes as an act of terrorism,” Aguirre added. 

Duterte has promised long-lasting peace in the Philippines by having peace talks with the Moro rebels and the CPP-NPA.