THE Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has maintained the terrorist tag of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and the Islamic State East Asia (ISEA) and other Daesh-linked or associated groups in the Philippines like the Maute and Abu Sayyaf.
The ATC also named Elizabeth Pineda Principe, a member of the CPP-NPA, as a terrorist.
ATC issued Resolution Number 54 and 55, issued on Dec. 6, 2023 and uploaded in the Official Gazette on April 17, 2024, said the CPP-NPA continues to target government forces and sow terror and fear among the public” based on the 268 cases of atrocities recorded from December 2020 to August 2023.
Among these were the killing of national football athlete Keith Absalon, who died in a roadside explosion caused by an improvised explosive device, and attacks in Masbate that resulted in the suspension of classes in four towns.
ATC said there are 54 cases filed against the CPP-NPA for violation of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suspension Act of 2012 and the Anti-Terrorism Act, and 478 pending court cases based on the data from the PNP as of Dec. 31, 2023.
The ATC, meanwhile, said it maintained the terrorist designation of the ISEA and other Daesh-linked or associated groups such as the Abu Sayyaf, Maute, Maguid, Turaifie, Hassan, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, due to their continued involvement in terrorist activities.
ATC Resolution 53, meanwhile, found probable cause to designate Pineda as a terrorist individual “based on verified and validated information, sworn statements and pieces of evidence gathered by different Philippine law enforcement agencies and the military.”
Among those allegedly committed by Pineda are planning, training, preparing, and facilitating the commission of terrorism; and for recruitment to and membership in a terrorist organization or groups organized for engaging terrorism.
She was also identified as a high-ranking leader of the CPP-NPA, serving as first deputy secretary of the organization’s general secretariat, and a member of the Central Committee.
Her aliases include Bining, Trining, Lagring, Saleng, Imay, Magat, Blue, Blu, Caroline, Gelly, Lola, Rosel, Rochel, Lumen, Epie, Puti, Ateng, Vox, Novo, Epson, Marma, Mao, Rek, Che-Che, Ethel, Oyeng, and Uying.
