Indeed, we aver that the CPP and NPA are revolutionary organizations that advance the Filipino people’s aspirations for genuine national freedom and democracy and draw its strength from the support of the broad masses, especially, peasants and workers.<\/em>” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Marco Valbuena, CPP Chief Information Officer, on the Manila RTC’s decision to junk DOJ’s petition declaring the CPP-NPA as “terrorists”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena views the Manila RTC Branch 19 ruling to junk the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) 2018 petition to declare the CPP-New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorists as a “pleasant surprise,” especially amid constant state terrorist attacks in the guise of “counter-insurgency.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n While claiming that the CPP-NPA has its own People’s Democratic Government, Valbuena recognized the decision of the court under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and discredited the baseless accusations by the Justice department and alleged ex-NPA rebels against the CPP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Manila RTC decision was, however, lauded as a “legal pushback” against the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which has engaged in various red-tagging sprees on national democratic forces, underground organizations, and the CPP-NPA, stated Valbuena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prior to Marcos, Jr.’s rule, numerous unarmed and legal activists have been subject to malicious terrorist-tagging by state forces amid lack of concrete grounds. Meanwhile, CPP-NPA rebels have also been the primary target of state counter-insurgency operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the elder Duterte’s rule, peace talks between the GRP and the CPP-NPA-NDF has been put to a halt in 2017, followed by a series of brazen attacks against national democratic organizations and individuals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, during Duterte’s term, numerous individuals have been baselessly red-tagged, peddling the vague definition of “terrorism” in accordance with the unconstitutional Anti Terror Law of 2020. In the DOJ petition, more than 600 individuals were asked to be tagged as terrorist by the DOJ without basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to the uncompelling evidence presented by the petitioners, in the 135-page decision, Manila RTC Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar clearly delineated what “terrorism” and “rebellion” is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Citing terrorism as an act conducted to engender mass panic and harm, the Manila RTC regarded the CPP-NPA as a “rebel” organization, clarifying that revolutionary violence can never be considered the CPP-NPA’s “purpose” or ends; rather, it should be seen as the organization’s “means” to advance the people’s agenda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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