Duterte formally declares CPP-NPA as terror group

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a proclamation formally designating the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as a terrorist organization.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement during a press conference in Malacañang.

The Palace spokesperson said the President signed the proclamation pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 10168 or the Human Security Act.

Roque said that under the law, affiliate revolutionary groups of the CPP-NPA would now also be considered terrorists groups, and anyone proven to be financing these groups would be held liable.

Citing the pertinent provisions of RA 10168, Roque said that a designated person is “any person or entity designated or identified as a terrorist, as one who finances terrorism or a terrorist organization or group under the applicable United Nations Security Council resolution or by another jurisdiction or supranational jurisdiction and pursuant to the proclamation which implements the Human Security Act.”

“Take note that the domestic statute and the UN Security Council prohibits the giving of funds to terrorist organizations, this will enable law enforcement agencies to run after individuals who will, in any way, provide financial support to the NPA now that it has been described as a terrorist organization,” Roque said.

In his proclamation, Duterte directed the Department of Foreign Affairs “to publish the foregoing designation of CPP-NPA and other designated persons, organizations, in accordance with Sections 3 and 15 of RA 10168 and its implementing rules and regulations.”

The proclamation was issued two weeks after the Philippine government terminated peace talks with the CPP-NPA after a series of violent attacks that the President said is against humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, Roque said that due to the proclamation, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has already issued a memorandum to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to immediately file the necessary application for the declaration of the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization with the appropriate regional trial court (RTC).

He said this is because a proper petition must be filed by the DOJ in court to classify the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group under the Human Security Act for the group to be considered as such under domestic laws and under relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

“This is not just in relation to Philippine domestic law but also in relation to a UN Security Council resolution intended to curtail financing of terrorist organizations,” Roque said. (PNA)