Isko Moreno open to drop NDF, CPP-NPA 'terrorist' tag

Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno has expressed openness to drop the terrorist tag on National Democratic Front (NDF), the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its military arm the New People’s Army (NPA), should they favor peace in negotiations.

“(The) terrorist tag is done by the United States and the Philippine government. Basta ako ‘yung peace talks we must seek for it as much as possible not only with the CPP-NPA but also to those other armed groups” Moreno, said during his campaign sortie in Lucena City, Quezon.

“In the meantime, if they are willing to talk and if they want a peaceful way of living, karapatan ng mga kapwa rin nating Pilipino na makapamuhay nang panatag at payapa. Nowadays it’s hard to find peace, sometimes a very expensive word but we must seek for long and just peace in our country because every Filipino deserves it,” he added.

Moreno said the success of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) could serve as a model for other armed groups such as the CPP-NPA to come up with a lasting peace agreement with the government.

“Kung ano 'yung napagtagumpayan sa BARMM, kasi ‘yun talagang nakita natin personally mukhang maganda na ang kinabukasan ng BARMM, ng mga kababayan nating Moro. So, hindi tayo dapat mawalan ng pag-asa. While it is true na hindi natin isusuko ang estado, mananatili ang isang pamahalaan, isang bandera lang ang Pilipinas," he said.

He expressed hope the communist groups and the government will be able to meet halfway when they come to the negotiating table.

“But, at the end of the day, ito ay mga kababayan tayo na maaring kailangan ng atensyon, kailangan may tenga, kailangan mapakinggan, but I hope when they come to the negotiating table, I hope they will meet us halfway, dapat hindi lang one-side para naman may matapos na. Tingin ko lahat ng bagay may tuldok. So I’ll pursue peace that but not at the expense of the state."

The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has also 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 CPP-NPA and NDF, which have also been designated as terrorist groups in December 2020 and July 2021, respectively.—AOL, GMA News