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MANILA, Philippines -- Jose Ma. Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), is unlikely to be taken off Europe's terror list, an official of the European Union told INQUIRER.net.
The official, who asked not to be named as he is not authorized to speak to media on the matter, said just as it is not easy to get on the EU's list of foreign terrorists, it is not easy to get off it.
"The listing will not change. It can change only if a member-state sponsors a delisting and follows the same process as listing," he said.
The official said that before persons or organizations are included in the list, an EU member-state proposes the action and presents its arguments in favor of listing, such as prosecution in a member-state or third country of those sought for listing.
Should the evidence warrant, the Council of the EU then adopts the proposal by consensus.
But before the Council of the EU makes its decision, it allows the subject of the proposed listing 30 days to present evidence against the listing.
Last year, there was minor confusion as to the inclusion of Sison, the CPP, and the New People's Army in the EU terror list after the EU Court of Justice (the Union’s appeals court) ruled that the European Commission did not follow procedures when it included Sison and the two rebel organizations on the list.
But just as Philippine leftists hailed the decision, the European Commission came out with a clarification that, while procedure may not have been followed, a new list drawn up in mid-2007 included Sison and the rebels.
The EU official clarified that the EU Court of Justice can only decide on the legality of the procedure, not the decision to tag organizations or persons as foreign terrorists; this decision falls within the ambit of the Council of the EU.
"The listing is revised every six months. With every revision is a new decision," he explained.
On Sison’s current status, the EU official said the CPP founder remains on the list but has been asked for his side.
Altogether, he said, the process takes about a year to complete.
The EU official said the only consequence of such a listing is the freezing of assets and police cooperation among the EU states to ensure no terror activities are planned or implemented within the Union.
But for humanitarian reasons, Sison is still given a certain amount of money to live decently.
Asked if the United States had requested for Sison and the rebel group’s inclusion on the list, the EU official acknowledged this was possible.
Asked which EU member-state moved for Sison's terror tag, he said this information is confidential.
