With canceled talks with Reds, Duterte to look into ‘fronts’

By Rosemarie A. Zamora

FOLLOWING THE announcement by the government of the cancellation of talks with communist rebels, President Rodrigo R. Duterte will order the arrest of members of the communist rebellion, including their “legal fronts,” his spokesman said on Thursday, Nov. 23.

Mr. Duterte, being a former prosecutor, has legal basis to order the arrest of left-leaning organizations and sympathizers if they are proven to have conspired with the rebels in committing acts of rebellion under the Human Security Act.

“He knows that there can be a conspiracy to commit a crime of both rebellion and the violation of the Human Security Act because you can now be prosecuted, for acts, overt acts constituting rebellion, also for violation of the Human Security Act, where the taking up of arms is intended for the purpose of inflicting fear or terror in the minds of the general public,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr., said in his press briefing.

“The President as public prosecutor has said that conspiracy is sufficient basis to accuse them of both rebellion and acts of terrorism because in a conspiracy the act of one is the act of all,” he added.

“Even if they did not physically take up arms, if they are part of a conspiracy to commit acts of terror or rebellion, then they can be held liable under the theory of conspiracy,” he added.

On Wednesday, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza announced the government has canceled all planned meetings with the rebels.

Later that day, Mr. Duterte singled out as well even their legal fronts.

“At ’yung mga legal fronts ninyo, alam ko… ’Wag na lang tayo magbolahan, galing ako diyan eh. You are helping each other conspiring to topple or whatever, to sow terror,” he said. (And your legal fronts, I know….Do not fool me. I’ve been there. You are helping each other conspiring to topple or whatever, to sow terror.)

“We will treat you as a criminal, period. And we will arrest everybody connected with ’yung mga (your) legal fronts nila,” he added.

Asked who the legal fronts are, Mr. Roque said, “I’m sure he (Mr. Duterte) will be guided by security and intelligence agencies of the government.”

“Well, the lawyers, of course, will take care of this. In conspiracy, there must be an agreement for a common purpose and a common design and for overt acts also to reach that common purpose,” he added.