Duterte preparing an order declaring communists as terrorists

President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at the ceremonial send-off of Vietnamese fishermen in Sual, Pangansinan on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. (Photo from an RTVM video)

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that the he was preparing an executive order declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as a terrorist group.

“I am preparing now. They are preparing an executive order declaring them terrorists and they will be afforded treatment of being criminals,” Duterte said in a speech at the ceremonial send-off of Vietnamese fishermen at the Sual Wharf and Causeway in Sual, Pangasinan.

Duterte said he would not file rebellion cases against the group because sometimes rebellion would be considered as a “noble” act.

Earler, he said that he would declare the CPP as a terrorist group, along with its political wing, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

Last week, the President signed Proclamation No. 360 terminating the peace talks between the government and the communists following series of attacks that have affected the civilians. /atm