The CPP condemns in the strongest terms the NTF-Elcac and its alter-ego, the so-called “Anti-Terror Council” (NTF-Elcac/ATC) for declaring as “terrorist” the 16 patriotic and democratic organizations allied with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

The declaration, contained in Resolution No. 28 of the NTF-Elcac/ATC (dated January 26, 2022 but published only yesterday) is part of the heightening campaign of suppression of the US-Duterte regime against the broad democratic forces, reinforces its reign of state terror. By aiming to terrorize the people, the declaration is part of preparations to steal the upcoming May presidential elections to ensure the victory of the Marcos-Duterte candidates.

The declaration of the NTF-Elcac/ATC is arbitrary and baseless made by a cabal of former military generals. In fact, all the 16 organizations targeted by the NTF-Elcac/ATC’s resolution are patriotic and democratic and have long been fighting for the rights and interests of their represented sectors. Many of these groups are among those which persisted in the difficult struggles during the dark period of martial law.

By remaining underground, these organizations have successfully avoided the acts of suppression of the reactionary state. Their members, numbering in the tens of thousands, are incognito and unidentifiable.

We anticipate the NTF-Elcac/ATC’s to use the resolution as blanket authority to clamp down on social activists by accusing them of being members of any of these organizations, in violation even of its own constitution and legal processes. It is likely that the NTF-Elcac/ATC will be filing more and more trumped up charges against activists, human rights defenders and critics of the regime, as in the recent case of Dr. Natividad Castro.

The resolution of the NTF-Elcac/ATC again proves how the so-called Anti-Terrorism Law is a law for political repression and state terrorism. It is being used by Duterte and his stooges to perpetuate the oppressive and exploitative system and his tyrannical regime.

• The allied organizations of the NDFP which the NTF-Elcac/ATC aim to suppress include the Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions (RCTU), the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Manggagawa (KASAMA), the Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid (PKM), Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (Makibaka), the Kabataang Makabayan (KM), the Katipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan (Kaguma), the Makabayang Samahang Pangkalusugan (MSP or Masapa), the Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan (LAB), the Lupon ng mga Manananggol para sa Bayan (Lumaban), the Artista at Manunulat ng Sambayanan (Armas), the Makabayang Kawaning Pilipino (MKP), the Revolutionary Organization of Overseas Filipinos and their Families (Compatriots), the Christians for National Liberation (CNL), the Cordillera People’s Democratic Front (CPDF), the Moro Resistance Liberation Organization (MRLO) and the Revolutionary Organization of Lumads (ROL).