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House Makabayan opposition bloc members have filed a resolution that seeks to investigate and condemn the supposed government “terror list.”
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, ACT-Teachers party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Women’s party Representatives Emmi De Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao and Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago filed on April 3 House Resolution 1807, which directs the House committee on human rights to probe the issue.
Last Feb. 21, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a petition before the Manila Regional Trial Court to declare as terrorists the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA), as well as 657 supposedly ranking members of these organizations.
READ: Tag Joma, UN special rapporteur, etc. as ‘terrorists’, gov’t impels Manila court
Zarate said this resolution could be a means of Congress to help expedite the peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), which is being revived by President Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: Duterte: Reds, gov’t panel have 60 days to restart talks
“House Resolution 1807 could be a means of Congress to help expedite the peace negotiations as it will put in issue how this list was unjustly compiled. This can also correct the injustice to the organizations whose lives and limb have been imperiled by their inclusion to this ‘hit list’,” Zarate said in a statement.
The list, he added, includes numerous human rights defenders, a former legislator and even a UN special rapporteur.
“This list, which is really becoming absurd by the minute, is anathema to providing a conducive atmosphere for the resumption of talks,” he said, noting that lifting the supposed terror list could help expedite the revival of peace talks.
On March 25, Zarate said 61 lawmakers in the House had signed House Resolution 1803 urging President Rodrigo Duterte to resume peace talks with the CPP/NPA/NDF.
A few days later, during the Holy Week, suspected NPA rebels went on a burning binge and torched heavy equipment used to make roads in Davao City, Davao del Norte.
The burnings angered government Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza who condemned the “senseless destruction” which he said did not help efforts to restore the negotiations. /cbb
READ: Solons seek resumption of PH-NDFP talks / Suspected NPAs burn heavy equipment in Davao