Last February 8, 2023, member organizations of Bayan (New Patriotic Alliance) called for the removal of the arbitrary terrorist designation by the Anti-Terror Council of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People's Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). They also called for the removal of the terrorist designation of all the NDFP consultants and activists. The organizations brought their demands to the Department of Justice.

In a statement, Bayan said that “instead of designating these organizations as terrorist, there should be the resumption of peace talks to address the roots of the armed conflict.” 

“Resuming the peace talks for a just peace can result in political agreements that can resolve the armed conflict. There must be a stop to labeling revolutionaries and consultants as terrorist. Doing this only hinders the attainment of a just and lasting peace,” Bayad added.

The group also said that the terrorist designation resulted in violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Red tagging continues unabated, as well as criminalization of legitimate organizations and criminalizing dissent, according to Bayan.

“History shows that the scorched earth policy is not the solution to the armed struggle. The solution is in resolving the roots of injustice,” said Bayan

At the same time, representatives of the Makabayan bloc in Congress submitted a resolution calling for the removal of the designation.  

There are now more than 800 peasants, activists and revolutionaries who are in prison on trumped up charges as part of the counter-insurgency drive of the Manila government. Thousands of civilians have become targets of bombings and militarization. This has resulted in severe violations of human rights like the killing of civilians, illegal arrests economic and food blockades, intimidation and even the kidnapping of children who the security forces believe are children of NPA.