President DUTERTE Signed a PROCLAMATION Declaring CPP-NPA as TERRORIST

5 December 2017 - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed a proclamation declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) as a terrorist organization.

During the press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced the proclamation declaring the CPP-NPA as terrorist. Roque said that due to the continued violent acts of the CPP-NPA which sow and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace.

"It's a proclamation declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army a designated, identified terrorist organization under Republic Act (RA) No. 10168," he said in Malacañang.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, through a memorandum, directed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to file a petition with the appropriate regional trial court for the declaration of the CPP-NPA as a terror group.

A court decision is necessary since a proclamation from the President is not enough to classify the communists as terrorists.This proclamation of t President Duterte would have an impact on the United Nations Security Council resolutions, aside from domestic policies.

Roque added that the classification would also mean authorities can arrest members of communist "legal fronts" found to be  financing the CPP-NPA, based on RA No. 10168 which defines the crime of financing terrorism.

"I quote the penultimate portion: ‘In this regard I hereby direct to publish the foregoing designation of the CPP-NPA and all other designated persons, organizations in accordance with Section 3 and 15 of RA 10168 and its implementing rules and regulations’,” Roque said.

Republic Act No. 10168 is Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act, which has provisions on the financing of terrorist groups.

The announcement came a week after Duterte announced that the Palace was preparing a document formalizing the new status of the two groups

Earlier, President Duterte declare that his administration would no longer pursue peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

According to Roque, there was no mention of the NDFP in the proclamation.

On questioning by reporters, Roque said he did not know how the proclamation would affect Jose Maria Sison, CPP founding chairman