By Junex Doronio
MANILA – Exasperated by the hardline position of the Maoist-oriented Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has maintained the designation of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as a terrorist organization.
This was announced on Sunday (21 April 2024) by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) headed by veteran lawyer-journalist and now Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil.
According to PCO, the CPP-NPA or the “Bagong Hukbong Bayan” was redesignated by the ATC as a terror group “as they continue to target government forces and sow terror and fear among the public,” citing over 200 atrocities recorded from December 2020 to August 2023.
Among the alleged atrocities were the killing of football player Kieth Absalon—who died when an improvised explosive device exploded in Masbate City in 2021—and the attacks on the city that forced the suspension of classes in four municipalities.
The ATC also cited the 54 cases for violation of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suspension Act of 2012 and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), and 478 pending court cases, based on data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) as of December 31, 2023.
At the same time, the PCO said that based on ATC Resolution No. 53, the terrorist designations of the Islamic State East Asia (ISEA) and other Daesh-linked or associated groups in the Philippines were also maintained.
As to the redesignation of ISEA and other Daesh-linked or associated groups in the country such as the Abu Sayyaf, Maute, Maguid, Turaifie, Hassan and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the ATC pointed out their “continued involvement in terrorist activities” in violation of the ATA.
(el Amigo/MNM)