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Gov't designates Joma Sison, 18 other CPP officials as terrorists


The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has designated 19 alleged ranking members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), including its founder Jose Maria Sison, as terrorists.

The designation of the 19 individuals, contained in the council's Resolution Number 17 (2021) dated April 21, 2021, authorizes the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze their assets.

Aside from Sison, also included in the list are his wife Julieta, Vicente Ladlad, Jorge Madlos, Adelberto Silva, Rey Casambre, Rafael Baylosis, and Wilma and Benito Tiamzon. The 19 are all members of the CPP's Central Committee.

"The Central Committee is the highest decision- and policy-making body of the CPP and also leads and commands the NPA, its main weapon in attaining the Party's goal of overthrowing the duly elected government by seizing and consolidating political power through violent means," the ATC said in a press release published in a local broadsheet.  

Citing “verified” and “validated” information, the ATC accused the CPP central committee members of violating several sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act “for planning, preparing, facilitating, conspiring, and inciting the commission of terrorism and recruitment to and membership in a terrorist organization.”

Petitions challenging the constitutionality of the anti-terror law are pending before the Supreme Court.

Sison says list 'dubious'

In a statement, Sison said he and his wife were “not at all bothered” by the designation.

“To start with, the list of names in the designation appears to be arbitrary, dubious and even contradictory or inconsistent with the various public and purportedly personal statements even of its own NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) evil minions,” said Sison, who is in self-exile in The Netherlands.

“Moreover, it includes mostly publicly known political consultants of the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) negotiating panel in the peace negotiations with the Manila government who are all entitled to the protection of the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement of Safety and Immunity Guarantees(JASIG) and other binding bilateral agreements.”

In a separate resolution, Resolution Number 16 (2021), the ATC also designates 10 members of "local terrorist groups" such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Daulah Islamiyah as terrorists.

“Designation plays a critical role in the fight against terrorism and is an effective means to eliminate, prevent or suppress the financing of terrorist acts, the provision of support to entities and persons involved in terrorist acts, the recruitment of members of terrorist groups, and the supply of weapons to terrorists,” the ATC said.

A request for delisting may be filed before the ATC within 15 days from publication of the designation.

The grounds for delisting include mistaken identity, relevant and significant change of facts or circumstance, newly discovered evidence, death of a designated person, dissolution or liquidation of designated organizations, associations or groups of persons, and any other circumstance which would show that the basis for designation no longer exists.

The ATC is headed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea with National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. as vice chairperson.

Its members include the secretaries of foreign affairs, national defense, the interior and local government, finance, justice, information and communications technology, and the AMLC executive director. 

AFP backs terror list

The Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed agreement to the ATC's terrorist list.

"We are optimistic that the ATC’s resolution will continue to empower government, under the rule of law, to eradicate terrorism in our country, and maintain a peaceful and progressive nation for every Filipinos," AFP chief of staff General Cirilito Sobejana said in a statement.

"With this new development, we will be able to protect further our citizens from terrorist acts by closely working together with government law enforcement agencies and focusing our resources to bring the mentioned personalities to justice," he added.—With a report from Ma. Angelica Garcia/KBK/LDF, GMA News

 

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