Former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo has filed a motion to remove himself from the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) terrorist list before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 19.
Ocampo was included by the DOJ in its proscription petition seeking to formally identify more than 600 individuals as “terrorists” who were linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Movant Ocampo vehemently denies he is an officer, a member, or even a representative of the CPP and NPA. Thus, he has no legal, vested, material interest insofar as the petition for proscription of the CPP and NPA is concerned,” the former lawmaker’s 40-page petition stated.
“There is nothing in the petition that would show that movant Ocampo has personal knowledge of, is engaged in, or committed or participated in any of the alleged ‘terrorist acts’ attributed to the CPP and NPA,” it stressed.
READ: Gov’t seeks terrorist tag for 600
In his petition, Ocampo dismissed his inclusion in the DOJ’s “terrorist” list as “another case of political persecution targeting leaders of progressive organizations.”
The leftist leader said that the DOJ proscription petition was only being used to “stigmatize” and “villify” his image as “a journalist of long standing and former popularly elected member and official (Deputy Minority Leader) of the House of Representatives.”
“Movant vehemently denounces the inclusion of his name as one of the alleged ‘known officers’ of the CPP and NPA in this petition and will continue to challenge and refute any allegation against him and his labeling as ‘terrorist,'” it added.
He also said that the DOJ was merely “recycling an old tactic” to smear mass leaders and peace negotiators.
“Recycling an old tactic, the petitioner (DOJ) lumps together names of mass leaders, peace negotiators and consultants with the names of alleged underground revolutionary leaders of the CPP and the NPA, collectively labelling them in the petition as terrorists,” Ocampo’s petition stated.
“It is respectfully prayed of the Honorable Court that the instant petition be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction over the person of movant Saturnino Ocampo and for failure of the petition to state a cause of action against him,” it said. /je