DOJ Appeal to Declare CPP, NPA as Terrorist Group Junk in Manila Court
The appeal of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to declare the New People’s Army (NPA) as a terrorist group has been junk in a court in Manila.
The DOJ’s plea to designate the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as a terrorist organization was denied. In the 135-page resolution written by Presiding Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19, it maintained that the aspirations of the CPP-NPA cannot be considered terrorism.
“[W]hile ‘armed struggle’ with the ‘violence’ that necessarily accompanies it, is indubitably the approved ‘means’ to achieve the CPP-NPA’s purpose, ‘means’ is not synonymous with ‘purpose,” according to the resolution.
“Stated otherwise, ‘armed struggle’ is only a ‘means’ to achieve the CPP’s purpose; it is not the ‘purpose’ of the creation of the CPP,” the judge emphasized.
In accordance with Section 17 of the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007, the DOJ filed the proscription case to declare the group a terrorist organization in 2018. The court cited the HSA in its definition of terrorism, which stated that it was the act of committing specific crimes
“Thereby sowing and creating a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace, in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand.”
Based on the report of GMA News, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano stated that the DOJ said in an interview that they will first review the ruling. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla stated in an ambush interview that the DOJ would submit a motion for reconsideration.
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