The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has formally designated a community doctor and a Mindanao-based armed group as terrorists, citing their alleged links to communist insurgents and Islamist militants.
In resolutions dated December 7, 2022, the ATC named Natividad Castro, a physician, as an active member of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People's Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). The council also listed the Al Khobar Group, operating in Mindanao, as a terrorist organization for its purported ties to the Dawlah Islamiyah.
The designations were announced in January 2023, marking a significant move by the government to formally classify the individuals and groups under the country's anti-terrorism law. Castro, known for her work in community health, has been accused of using her position to support the armed struggle, though no public statement from her has been issued.
The Al Khobar Group, meanwhile, is believed to be a small armed faction linked to more established militant networks in the southern Philippines. The ATC's resolution allows authorities to apply targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, against those designated.
Under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the ATC's designation can be challenged before the Court of Appeals. Human rights groups have previously raised concerns about the law's broad scope, urging the government to ensure due process in such proclamations.
As of this report, the ATC has not released further details on the evidence behind the designations, but the resolutions underscore the government's continued crackdown on both communist and terrorist groups in the country.