EU, Belgium trace funding for CPP fronts – AFP exec

A top military official has confirmed that the European Union and Belgium were looking into an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) report seeking to stop unwitting international financial aid to leftist groups which the military claims  to be “fronts” for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

AFP deputy chief of staff for civil military operations Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. confirmed reports that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, created last year, already met with officials of the European Union, European Parliament and the European Commission to request that Belgium and EU member countries stop giving aid to nongovernment organizations in the Philippines claiming to be “marginalized” and “pro-poor” but are actually “identified communist terrorist front organizations.”

“The EU and Belgian government gave their commitment to look into our report to make sure they are able to take appropriate action,” Parlade said.