Trillanes, who is known as one of the President’s most strident critics, explained that Atty. Romel Bagares and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines filed theirs around mid to late 2018.
“As a background, during the first two years of the Duterte administration, the CPP/NPA/NDF is in a power-sharing/coalition government with Duterte. In fact, there were at least 3 cabinet secretaries from the CPP/NPA/NDF,” said Trillanes. The former senator was talking about appointed leftists – peasant leader Rafael Mariano, social worker Judy Taguiwalo, and former congresswoman Liza Maza.“During those times, they never called out Duterte for the EJKs and, therefore, did not file a case with the ICC. It was only when the peace talks were eventually scrapped by Duterte that they started raising issues against him,” he stated.
“So, again, it is clear that when the CPP/NPA/NDF was still in bed with Duterte, they countenanced Duterte’s EJKs,” he added.