Aguirre defends terror list

From Malaya Business Insight (Mar 13): Aguirre defends terror list

DESPITE criticisms, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday stood pat on a list submitted by his department to a Manila court as part of government’s petition seeking to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist groups.

The list contains the names of about 600 individuals linked to the communist group.

On Sunday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson criticized the justice department for its “lazy work” as he said more extensive intelligence and investigation work should have been done on the persons in the list which he said was based on old files. He said the DOJ should have instead gone after individuals who are currently leading the communist insurgency.

Aguirre said the list was a product of thorough research and intelligence work and not “baseless and irresponsible” as claimed by Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN rapporteur on indigenous peoples, who was in the list.

“This list is a product of research and evidence supplied by police authorities and intelligence agencies. If they have evidence to prove otherwise, they should just answer the petition and the court will hear them,” Aguirre said.

He asked Tauli-Corpuz and other critics to present their side before the court.

Aside from Tauli-Corpuz, Aguirre formally confirmed that also in the list are CPP founding chair Jose Maria Sison, former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, CPP leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant Rafael Baylosis, former peace panel chief Luis Jalandoni, human rights lawyer and former Baguio City councilor Jose Molintas, among others.

President Duterte resumed peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDFP in 2016, right after he assumed the presidency. He cancelled the talks in November last year because the NPA continued attacks on government forces. He later declared the CPP and NPA as terror groups.

Under Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act of 2007, the justice department must ask a regional trial court to declare an organization, association, or group of persons as terrorists or outlawed organizations.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/aguirre-defends-terror-list