A partylist group is mulling the filing a bill that would declare as terrorist groups the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the organizations allegedly allied with it. At a weekly news forum on Thursday, Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Rep. Jun Alcover said his group has been studying the possibility of declaring the following as terrorist groups for their alleged anti-government actions:
CPP; Bayan Muna; League of Filipino Students, and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers. Two of these groups — Bayan Muna and ACT — have partylist representatives in the Congress. Alcover said Jose Maria Sison, CPP founding chairman, in an earlier statement, admitted that these groups were part of the National Democratic Front (NDF). “Ang ANAD partylist is studying, nagreresearch na kami ngayon na baka, we will be filing a bill in Congress declaring CCP-New People’s Army and its allies as terrorists," said the partylist representative. He said his group would most likely finish studying the matter early next year. “Baka we will be filing a bill na ideklara sila na terorista para klaro yung linya natin. Magpeacetalk pa ba tayo o hindi na, kung declared na na terorista e di hindi na," he said. Stunted development Alcover blamed the groups for the stunted development of the country in the last 40 years. “For the last 44 years walang nangyari sa Pilipinas gulo lang. Bumagsak ang ekonomiya natin because of this so-called democratic revolution of the maoist organizations. We are studying, possibly kung next year kung anong mangyari dito, we will file that bill after study naming," Alcover said. Before they are declared as terrorists, the groups should talk peace with the government, Alcover said. He added that these groups should not wait for the removal of the CPP from the United States' (US) and the European Union's (EU) lists of terror groups before talking peace with the Philippine government. Philippine government talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF had stalled in August 2004 after the group demanded its removal from the US and European list of international terrorist organizations. The group remains to be in the US and EU's lists of terror groups. “Yung declaration ng CPP-NPA as terrorist hindi Pilipinas ang nagdeclare so sa palagay ko hindi dahilan na gagamitin nila yun hindi ituloy ang peace process. They should take advantage of this no declaration on the part of the government," he added. Not the deal breaker ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, who was also present during the news forum, refused to comment on Alcover’s plan. “I’d rather address yung sa issue nung terrorist listing. Malinaw na hindi ito yung deal breaker na issue, ibig sabihin kahit pa humiling ang NDF na kumilos ang Aquino administration para i-delist ang CPP at tila hindi naman tumutugon ang Aquino admin, nagpapatuloy yung mga pag-uusap dun sa posibilidad ng pagbukas muli ng peacetalks," Tinio explained. He said the inclusion of CCP in the terror listing is not a major stumbling block in the peace process. “I think kung pumosisyon ang Aquino administration nung katulad nung Arroyo government na kalimutan na ang talks on social and economic reforms and let’s just negotiate a single and final peace agreement then dun babara ang talks," said Tinio. Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño has yet to comment on the matter. For her part, Zambales Rep. Ma Milagros Magsaysay said it is the prerogative of Alcover to file such bill. “He is entitled to his opinion," she said when asked to comment on the issue. – VVP, GMANews.TV 
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