BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – The Supreme Court issuance of the set of procedural rules that shall govern all petitions and applications concerning The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (ATA) and other related laws will be a boost to Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division’s (3ID) campaign against insurgency in Western and Central Visayas.
The Rules on the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and Related Laws (A.M. No. 22-02-19-SC) will take effect on Jan. 15, 2024. It will apply to petitions and applications regarding detentions without judicial warrants of arrest, surveillance orders, freeze orders, restrictions on travel, designations, proscriptions, and other court issuances promulgated to implement the ATA and other related laws.
Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, 3ID spokesperson, said the SC move would serve as a warning to those who are supporting the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and Communist Terrorist Groups (CTG), including businessmen and politicians.
Civilians, businessmen and politicians supporting the CTG or CPP-NPA through in kind or in cash would be jailed and could face criminal cases, Javines added.
“The rules also provides for the issuance of an Order of Proscription by the Court of Appeals (CA), upon a verified petition by the Department of Justice Secretary, declaring as outlawed terrorist any group of persons, organization, or association that commits any of the acts defined and penalized under Sections 4 to 12 of the ATA, or that is organized to engage in terrorism,” read part of the SC statement released on Monday, Jan. 1.
The CPP-NPA was designated terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council and the US State Department as Foreign Terrorist Organization sometime in September 2022 and August 2002, respectively.
For his part, 3ID commander Major General Marion Sison said, “The Supreme Court’s approval and issuance of the rules on the application and implementation of the provisions of the Anti-Terror Law will further strengthen their security operations to prevent acts of terror perpetrated by a group or an individual but more importantly, it will hasten their effort to end the local communist armed conflict.”
“The issuance of these rules will greatly hamper if not diminish the operations and resource generation activities of the terrorist groups and its white area operatives. The acts and other related laws such as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act or Republic Act 10168 define and provide punishment for acts of terrorism such as but not limited to participation, cooperation, facilitation and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism by an individual, group or association and suspects can be arrested without judicial warrants of arrest,” Sison further explained.
With this ruling, the 3ID commander assured the public, especially the people of Western and Central Visayas, that the 3ID will continue to collaborate with the local government units, law enforcement agencies and other partners and stakeholders in protecting the rights of the people during the implementation of the anti-terrorism act and other related laws.
Sison reiterated his call for the remaining armed rebels to lay down their arms and abandon the futile armed struggle and join the government in pursuing just and lasting peace, unity and development.
“Malaking tulong itong acts in our campaign against insurgency kasi kapag wala na silang mass-base support, magugutom sila at affected na ang kanilang financial support, thus they would be forced to surrender. So we are calling the community, businessmen and even politicians to stop giving support to the rebels,” Sison added./PN
