MANILA – The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has maintained the designation of “terrorist organization” to the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) or the “Bagong Hukbong Bayan.”
In ATC Resolution No. 53 on Monday, the CPP-NPA was re-designated as a terror group “as they continue to target government forces and sow terror and fear among the public.”
The Council cited over 200 atrocities linked to the insurgents that was recorded from December 2020 to August 2023.
Among the alleged atrocities linked to CPP-NPA were the death of football player Kieth Absalon due to an improvised explosive device explosion in Masbate City in 2021 and the attacks on the city that forced the suspension of classes in four municipalities.
The ATC also cited 54 cases of violation of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suspension Act of 2012 and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), and 478 pending court cases, based on Philippine National Police (PNP) records as of December 31, 2023.
Meanwhile, the ATC also maintained the terrorist designations of the Islamic State East Asia (ISEA) and other Daesh-linked or associated groups in the Philippines.
The re-designation of ISEA and other Daesh-linked or associated groups such as the Abu Sayyaf, Maute, Maguid, Turaifie, Hassan and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters was due to their “continued involvement in terrorist activities” in violation of the ATA.
“The ISEA and other Daesh-linked groups specifically violated several sections of the ATA,” read a statement released by the Presidential Communication Office.
Meanwhile, the ATC also named Elizabeth Pineda Principe, a National Democratic Front (NDF) peace consultant, as a terrorist “based on verified and validated information, sworn statements and pieces of evidence gathered by different Philippine law enforcement agencies and the military.”
“Principe — who is known in various aliases — was tagged as a terrorist for allegedly violating Republic Act 11479 or The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020,” said the ATC.
The ATC accused Principe of planning, training, preparing, and facilitating the commission of terrorism; and recruiting members for engaging in terrorism./PN
