Members of an anti-communist group massed in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday as they called on the agency to expedite its petition seeking to tag the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) as a terrorist organization.
Nolan Tiongco, leader of the Liga Independencia Filipinas, in an interview, said once the justice department declares them as terrorists, "they will lose financial support from international communities" and thus, put an end to the rebel group's harmful activities.
"Kaliwa't-kanan na ang kanilang pamimiwersyo sa tao gaya ng pamamaslang at pagwasak sa mga ari-arian ng tao at mga private corporation (Their atrocities against our people and the destruction they caused on properties are seen left and right)" he said.
In a separate interview, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said once the declaration is official, the military can go after the rebel group's supporters and financers.
"It will come as a huge aid to us, we can have the support of the international community in cutting off any forms of help that the terror group receives," Detoyato said in a text message.
In a text message sent to the Philippine News Agency, DOJ Usec. Markk Perete said the department is still "awaiting updates from the prosecutors handling the case."
The anti-communist group, which consists of former rebels, has been going around telling people on NPA's "unpleasant outcomes".
The group stormed the Dutch embassy on Monday as they called for the termination of CPP founder Joma Sison’s asylum status and repatriate him to the Philippines so his punishments may be served.
Previous reports show that the communist group has been suspect to numerous cases of killings and billions of pesos worth of damaged properties.
The communist organization, Tiangco said, has caused fear instead of relief for the last 50 years.
The DOJ has formally made its first step to declare the CPP-NPA a terrorist organization last Feb. 21, 2018, pursuant to President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier proclamation.
In a 55-page petition submitted before the Manila Regional Trial Court, the DOJ sought to declare the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group, citing Republic Act 9372 or The Human Security Act of 2007.
The petition, signed by Senior Associate State Prosecutor Peter Ong, accused the CPP-NPA of having an “evil plan of imposing a totalitarian regime.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson has recently urged the DOJ to determine what happened to its petition seeking to tag the communist party as a terrorist group.
“I urge the executive branch, particularly the DOJ to follow up with the judiciary the case that they filed calling for the prescription of the NPA as a terrorist group which is provided under Section 2 of the Human Security Act of 2007,” Lacson posted on his Twitter account on January 3.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058959
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