(Eagle News)–A Manila court has declared Satur Ocampo and several others, including a United Nations rapporteur, as “non-parties” to the government’s plea Communist rebels be tagged as terrorists.
Apart from the former Bayan Muna representative, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 declared UN Special Rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and former Baguio City councilor Jose Melencio Molintas as non-parties, noting that there was no proof in the DOJ petition that Molintas and Corpuz were indeed officers of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.
The court also noted that like Ocampo, there was “no clear allegation” that Rafael Baylosis was a “member” of the CPP-NPA.
The Department of Justice filed the petition for proscription after President Rodrigo Duterte cancelled peace talks with the rebels last year.
The filing was in compliance with the Human Security Act of 2007.