DOJ to finalize terrorist ‘designation’ rules before yearend

“We are in the process of crafting the rules. We hope to submit the rules for the ATC’s (Anti-Terrorism Council) consideration within the month,” Justice Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand Sugay said media statement on Tuesday. (File Photo By Ramon FVelasquez – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) is finalizing rules on the identification of persons who are members of terrorist organizations as mandated by Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

“We are in the process of crafting the rules. We hope to submit the rules for the ATC’s (Anti-Terrorism Council) consideration within the month,” Justice Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand Sugay said media statement on Tuesday.

Under Section 25 of the law, the ATC may designate individuals or groups as terrorists upon finding of probable cause that they are in a conspiracy to commit or are committing acts of terrorism.

“I understand that there is a meeting set for next week. We will try to finish the rules before then” he added.

After the publication of names of designated terrorists, their assets may be subject to a freeze order by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law was completed in October.

Signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in July, RA 1179 repealed Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act of 2007. It seeks the detention of suspected terrorists for up to 24 days with no warrant of arrest.

It also allows the police or the military to conduct a 60-day surveillance with an allowable 30-day extension on suspected terrorists.

The law also imposes a 12-year jail term on a person who voluntarily or knowingly joins a terrorist organization.