DOJ remains firm over terrorist tag

FILE: Justice Vitaliano Aguirre. (PCOO Photo)

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, March 12, remains firm on its decision to formally brand 649 individuals linked to the communist group, as terrorists.

According to the petition filed by the DOJ last Friday, the list included founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Jose Maria Sison “Joma” Sison and United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz.

Other individuals listed were communist rebels from CPP and its armed group New People’s Army (NPA) a.k.a. Bagong Hukbong Bayan and National Democratic Front (NDF) peace negotiators Luis Jalandoni, Coni Ledesma, Randall Echanis, and Rafael Baylosis.

The petition was filed before the National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 19.

Justice Vitaliano Aguirre II defended that the list they submitted was not “baseless and malicious” as what Corpuz claimed it to be. The latter also said that the government sees this as an opportunity “to pursue people they don’t like,” adding that she feared for her safety and for the safety of others included in the list.

“This list is a product of research and evidence supplied by police authorities and intelligence agencies,” Aguirre was quoted as saying in a Philstar report.

“If they have evidence to the contrary, they should just answer the petition and the court will hear them. This case should not be tried through the media,” he added.

The justice secretary also stressed that this petition was filed after the government concluded peace negotiations with the rebels.

In its appeal, the DOJ cited Section 17 of Republic Act (RA) No. 9372 of ‘The Human Security Act of 2007,’ seeking the declaration of the CPP, NPA, also known as Bagong Hukbong Bayan, as terrorist and outlawed organizations, associations and/or group of persons.

“It is declared a policy of the State to protect life, liberty, and property from acts of terrorism, to condemn terrorism as inimical and dangerous to the national security of the country and to the welfare of the people, and to make terrorism a crime against the Filipino people against humanity, and against the law of nations,” the petition read.

The government last month made its first step to declare CPP-NPA as terrorist organization pursuant to President Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamation.

The petition was filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) on February 21.

This petition, signed by Senior Associated State Prosecutor Peter Ong, accused the CPP-NPA of having an “evil plan of imposing a totalitarian regime.”