The Department of National Defense supports the resolution of the Anti-Terrorism Council  (ATC) in its designation of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) as a terrorist group,  based on ATC Resolution No. 2021 signed 23 June 2021.  

The ATC has found probable cause warranting the designation, citing the statement of  Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma. Sison, who identified the CPP/NPA as one of  the allied organizations of the NDF. His wife, Juliet De Lima-Sison was also recently named as the  Interim Chairperson of the NDF negotiating panel. The couple were both designated as terrorists  under ATC Resolution No. 17 earlier this year.  

The CPP/NPA themselves continue to launch attacks against the Filipino people, victimizing  innocent civilians and destroying billions’ worth of crucial public infrastructure for a principle that has  long since been rendered obsolete.  

Members of the NDF continue to lure and recruit people to join the NPA, while the CPP itself  admits and maintains through its own public media releases and documents the direct and  indispensable role of the NDF in its armed operations.  

The Department hopes that this development justifies and enables the defense sector to move  forward in its efforts to address internal security concerns and lay the foundations of sustainable,  lasting peace and national development. 

Delfin N. Lorenzana 

Secretary 

Department of National Defense