PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte's openness to resume talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has no implication on the government's petition to declare the group and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), as terror organizations, MalacaƱang said Wednesday, April 4.
"For now, that statement by the President, which is premised on certain preconditions, will not affect in any way the pending petition for the proscription of certain individuals as terrorists or violators of the Human Security Act," Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a press conference.
On Tuesday, April 3, the President raised possibility of revival of negotiations between the government peace panel and the CPP's political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Duterte, in a speech delivered in Oriental Mindoro, said the peace talks might resume if NPA rebels will no longer extort money, burn public and private properties, and kill people.
The Commander-in-Chief apparently backpedaled on the peace dialogue with the communist guerillas, in the wake of the NPA's string of attacks in at least three remote villages of Davao City during the observance of the Holy Week.
"I'd like to address myself first to the NPAs. You know, we're not enemies. Even though I want to fight you, my heart says I could not kill my fellow Filipinos... Let's talk about peace and stop killing," Duterte said.
"We can talk. Stop revolutionary government. Do not burn properties... In the meantime, if you really want to really negotiate with us, you stop immediately. You and I will have a ceasefire," he added.
Prior to Duterte's remark, the Department of Justice (DOJ) had asked the Manila Regional Trial Court to declare members of the CPP and NPA as terrorists.
The DOJ's appeal was in line with Duterte's signing of Proclamation 374 on December 5, 2017, which intends to classify the CPP and NPA as terror groups because of their acts allegedly considered as "crime against the Filipino people, against humanity, and against the law of the nations."
Under Section 3 of the Human Securuty Act of 2007, a person commits a crime of terrorism when he engages in piracy, rebellion, coup d'etat, murder, kidnapping, and crimes involving destruction.
Section 17 of the Human Security Law also states that any organization that sows and creates condition of "widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand" can be declared as a terrorist group.
But before a person or a group can be considered a terror group, the same law requires the DOJ to first file a petition before a competent Regional Trial Court.
Guevarra said that while Duterte was keen to once again have a dialogue with the communists, the government remains bent on classifying the CPP and NPA as terror organizations.
"First and foremost, there are no resumption of talks yet. It's yet to happen. And there are standards or criteria under the law itself, Human Security Act, which is basically our anti-terrorism law that can declare an individual or a group as a terrorist group," Guevarra said.
"For as long as the legal requirements under the Human Security Act are met, then the government will pursue its proscription action against these people, regardless of the fact that coincidentally, they are supposed to be 'consultants' of the peace process," he added. (SunStar Philippines)