(Eagle News) — The Palace on Wednesday said it will not withdraw its petition before a Manila court seeking to have communist rebels declared as terrorists.
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra made the statement even after President Rodrigo Duterte said peace talks could resume if the rebels stopped committing atrocities, and agreed to a ceasefire.
Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison also said the NDFP was ready to talk to the government following Duterte’s pronouncement.
“For as long as the requirements under the Human Security Act are met then the government will pursue its proscription action against these people regardless of the fact na coincidentally they are supposed to be ‘consultants’ sa peace process,” Guevarra said.
The petition was filed before Branch 19 of the Manila RTC after an irate President Duterte scrapped peace talks with the communist rebels last year.
The Department of Justice included among the personalities it sought to declare as terrorists former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Sison, alleged CPP leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant Rafael Baylosis and former peace panel chief Luis Jalandoni, among others.