On DOJ terror list: Aliases, dead people

While it included Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria Sison, alleged CPP leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon and National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant Rafael Baylosis, the government’s terror list also contained multiple aliases such as Boy Negro, Tanya, Fidel, Bea, Joker and Bangus.

Other individuals tagged as terrorists were simply called Pader, Ber, Tol, Yang, Jan-jan, Agua, Kulas and Totoy Dako.

“These are names that could be [aliases] of anybody,” said Tinay Palabay, secretary general of rights group Karapatan.

The list also included at least eight people who are already dead, Palabay said.

Two missing people were also tagged, including one who has not been seen since 2007.

“They put these individuals at risk because warrantless arrest can be effected on the basis of a written issuance by the Anti-Terrorism Council,” said lawyer Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers. “By experience, the government has been using aliases to replace actual persons.”

Karapatan on Tuesday called on the government to junk the Department of Justice petition seeking to tag the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorists. —With reports from Krixia Subingsubing and Jaymee T. Gamil