Conspiracy with NPA enough to charge Reds’ legal fronts —Palace

Conspiracy to commit rebellion and acts of terrorism is enough basis to criminally charge the so-called “legal fronts” of communist rebels, Malacañang said Thursday.

“In a conspiracy, the act of one is the act of all, even if they did not physically take up arms, if they’re part of a conspiracy to commit acts of terror or rebellion, then they can be held liable under the theory of conspiracy,” presidential spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Roque made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that he would tag all “legal fronts” of the New People’s Army (NPA) as criminals and have them arrested for conspiracy.

Duterte had said that he would soon declare the NPA as a terrorist group.

Duterte, according to Roque, will be advised by his security forces as to what legal fronts should be charged with conspiracy.

Asked whether being a member of a leftist organization constitutes the act of conspiracy, Roque, also a lawyer, said: “Not necessarily. Only what the President described as the legal front of the New People’s Army, the CPP-NPA, the legal front.”

Roque said Duterte’s threats stems from his “frustration” that the government was talking peace with the NPA while the group continues to attack soldiers and civilians.

“So napika na po ang Presidente. Nais niya talagang magkaroon ng kapayapaan, nakipag-usap siya. Pero habang nakipag-usap, wala pong hupa ang pag-aatake ng NPA,” Roque said.

“Kaya nga po sabi niya, tingin ko, terorista na ‘yang mga ‘yan at panahon na para talagang mapanagot sila,” he added.

Roque said the cancellation of the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) stand “for now.”

“He has issued verbal orders repeatedly on the subject matter, which are identical so it is final for now. No more peace talks with the NPA,” he said. —NB, GMA News