Manila to court: Declare communist rebels terrorists

manila — Justice officials asked a court on Wednesday to formally designate the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist groups in a move that could further damage chances of a resumption of stalled peace talks.

In a petition before a Manila regional court, the Department of Justice cited deadly attacks and violence committed by the insurgents, including bloody internal purges of suspected military spies, in seeking the proscription of the groups behind insurgency.

At least 30,000 people have died in the conflict, according to the military President Rodrigo Duterte resumed peace talks with the guerrillas in 2016. He granted concessions by appointing three left-wing activists to his Cabinet, but the relations deteriorated when he protested continuing assaults on troops.

Last year, he canceled Norwegian-brokered talks with the guerrillas and signed an order declaring the rebel groups as terrorist organisations in a prelude to his government’s formal move.

Senior assistant state prosecutor Peter Ong said the guerrillas were insincere in their talks with the government and only wanted to grab power.

“Their main purpose is to mobilise all their forces in preparation for the ‘people’s war’ aimed at overthrowing the duly constituted authorities,” according to the justice department petition, adding that the rebels wanted to impose “a totalitarian regime.” —

AFP file Members of the New People’s Army communist rebels at their guerrilla encampment tucked in the Madre mountains southeast of Manila, Philippines. —