AFP wants acts glorifying terrorism penalized

“We also like to move to penalize and punish the act of glorification of terrorism. As I have said, one of the platforms, a potent one, that these terrorists use in order recruit and to convert individuals into violent extremists is through social media that they made as platform to glorify, promote and advance terrorism,” AFP spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Thursday. (File Photo:  Joy Gumatay via PTV/Facebook)

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is pushing to penalize any act that will glorify terrorism, as part of the bid to strengthen the country’s anti-terrorism law.

“We also like to move to penalize and punish the act of glorification of terrorism. As I have said, one of the platforms, a potent one, that these terrorists use in order recruit and to convert individuals into violent extremists is through social media that they made as platform to glorify, promote and advance terrorism,” AFP spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Thursday.

Part of the AFP proposal is to penalize, not only consummated acts of terrorism, but also efforts to recruit and provide aid to terror organizations.

“We are also including in our proposal to penalize not only consummated act of terrorism but also including crimes like inciting to commit terrorism, recruitment to terrorist organization, and providing material support to terrorists,” Arevalo said.

The AFP spokesperson also said that they are planning to coordinate with the legislature so that foreign terrorist fighters and aliens be made liable for terrorism.

“These are just some of the proposals as regards, that we have and we are proposing to Congress to add to the present Human Security Act which to our mind appear to be more restrictive of the security forces rather than empowering members of the security forces,” Arevalo stressed.

Also, the AFP spokesperson said that they are also recommending that the 40-year imprisonment penalty for terrorists be expanded to life imprisonment without the benefit of parole due to the seriousness of the crime.