THE Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday it would still pursue the proscription petition it filed two years ago before the Regional Trial Court of Manila City seeking to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) or the Bagong Hukbong Bayan as terrorist groups.
Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said the objective of the proscription petition is different from the Anti-Terrorism Council’s designation of the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.
“Proscription petition will proceed. Designation is mainly for purpose of the AMLC [Anti-Money Laundering Council] exercising its authority to freeze assets or funds,” Sugay explained. The prescription petition has been pending before the Manila RTC since February 2018.
The DOJ filed the petition for proscription through Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong pursuant to Section 17 of Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act of 2007.
If granted, this will allow the government to seek clearance from the Court of Appeals (CA) to engage in wiretapping activities against the communists, as well as apply for a freeze order on, and examination of, the bank accounts and assets of their leaders and identified members.
In seeking to declare the communist groups as terrorists, the justice department highlighted the atrocities that the groups committed over the years.
The DOJ insisted that the groups were organized for the purpose of engaging in terrorism and in fact, have been committing acts that fall under RA 9372.
“To proscribe is to outlaw. Members of the proscribed group may be held liable for violation of the ATA [Anti-Terrorism Act],” Sugay said.
In a separate interview over ANC News Channel, Sugay stressed that designating CPP-NPA as a terrorist group would not automatically lead to arrests.
“There will be no arrest or detention in the coming days. This is really more for going after the funds or the assets of the designated individual or organizations,” Sugay said.