President Duterte has placed the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), under the terrorist list of the country.
In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. said the President has signed a proclamation labeling the CPP-NPA as terrorists.
The proclamation came after Duterte terminated the peace talks with the communists in November.
Although the proclamation is yet to be officially released by Malacañang as of this writing, Roque said the President has instructed the publication of the CPP-NPA, as well as persons and organizations affiliated to them, as terrorists.
“In this regard, I hereby direct to publish the foregoing destination of the CPP-NPA and all other designated persons and organizations in accordance with Sections 3 and 15 of RA [Republic Act ] 10135 and its implementing rules and regulations,” Roque said, quoting the draft proclamation.
Under RA 10168, or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act, the financing of terror groups is prohibited and penalized. Section 15 of RA 10168 mandates the Department of Foreign Affairs to publish a list of the designated persons to which the law or the Human Security Act applies.
Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea has also issued a memorandum to Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II to immediately file for the proscription of the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization in a regional trial court (RTC). “Because of the proclamation, the [justice] secretary was directed by [Medialdea] to file a petition in the RTC because it is not automatic that just because the Executive has classified the group as a terrorist organization, it will be considered as a terrorist organization under the domestic law and under relevant security council resolutions,” Roque said.
However, the proclamation has not named the negotiating arm of the CPP-NPA, the National Democratic Front (NDF), as a terror group. Nonetheless, all those who are proven financing the CPP-NPA will face criminal charges in court.
Peace talks between the government and the NDF has collapsed due to tensions on the ground resulting from encounters between soldiers and communist rebels.