Gov't designates 16 organizations linked to CPP-NPA-NDF as terrorists

The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has designated 16 organizations supposedly functioning as underground organizations of the communist groups as terrorists.

In a statement, ATC vice chairperson Hermogenes Esperson said the organizations are part of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) and  National Democratic Front (NDF), which have also been designated as terrorist groups in December 2020 and July 2021, respectively.

Under ATC Resolution 28 approved on January 26, 2022, the 16 organizations are: 

•     Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions
•     Katipunan ang mga Samahang Manggagawa or Federation of Labor Organizations
•     Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid or National Association of Peasants
•     Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan or Patriotic Movement of New Women
•     Kabataang Makabayan or Patriotic Youth
•     Katipunan ng Gurong Makabayan or Association of Patriotic Teachers
•     Makabayang Samahang Pangkalusugan or Patriotic Health Association
•     Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan or League of Scientists for the People
•     Lupon ng mga Manananggol Para Sa Bayan or Committee of Lawyers for the People
•     Artista at Manunulat ng Sambayanan or Artists and Writers for the People
•     Makabayang Kawaning Pilipino or Patriotic Government Employees
•     Revolutionary Organization of Overseas Filipinos and their Families
•     Christians for National Liberation
•     Cordillera People's Democratic Front
•     Moro Resistance Liberation Organization, and
•     Revolutionary Organization of Lumads.

The ATC claimed that Jose Maria Sison and former NPA members identified these 16 organizations and that their involvement with communists were validated by documents and publications of the CPP and the NDF.

"Apart from verified information and documentary evidence, testimonial evidence from former members provides the probable cause warranting the ATC designation of underground organizations," the ATC said.

"Former members revealed their knowledge and involvement [in activities] to arouse, organize, and mobilize masses, to generate financial, material and technical support for the armed operations and to produce cadres for the countryside," it added.

The authority of the ATC to designate personalities and groups as terrorists is provided under the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 which legality has been upheld by the Supreme Court in December 2021 save for two provisions.

The two provisions of the Anti-Terrorism law deemed illegal by the High Court were:

• Section 4 which states that dissent is not deemed terrorism provided that they are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person's life, or to create a serious risk to public safety and
• Section 25, Paragraph 2 which states that a request for a terrorist designation by other jurisdictions of supranational jurisdictions may be adopted by the ATC after a determination that the proposed designee meets the criteria for designation of United Nations Security Council.

GMA News Online has reached out to the organizations for their comment but has yet to receive a reply.—with Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA News