Justice department to pursue court petition tagging Reds as terror group as peace talks have not resumed

April 5, 2018

The justice department will push through with its petition before the Manila Regional Trial Court seeking to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist groups.

“We are all for peace. However,  the peace talks have not actually resumed. We will comply with any new  directive of our President on this matter. For the time being, there being no order to the contrary, we will pursue the petition as filed,” Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes told reporters Thursday.

On Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is willing to give the peace talks with the communist rebels a "last chance".

The Duterte administration started formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front, the alliance of revolutionary organizations, which include the CPP-NPA, in 2016, but canceled them in November last year amid continued attacks of the NPA on government forces and civilians.

Duterte signed a proclamation in December 2017 declaring the CPP-NPA as a terror organization using Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 as basis. DMS