An official of the Department of Justice on Monday said none of the persons or groups designated as “terrorists” by the government’s Anti-Terrorism Council has applied for delisting.
Justice Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand Sugay made the disclosure even as he admitted that the DOJ is currently drafting rules governing the request or application for delisting of designated terrorists.
“The internal mechanism for designation also contains provisions re: delisting. We are proposing a few additional provisions and these will hopefully be taken up during the next ATC meeting,” he said, in a text message to reporters.
However, Sugay declined to divulge details of the proposals.
Under Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the assets of those designated as terrorists “shall be subject to the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze…”
Last April 21, the ATC issued Resolution No. 17 which designated as terrorists 19 members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) including its founder Jose Maria Sison.
Apart from Sison, also included in the list were Vicente Portades Ladlad, Rafael De Guzman Baylosis, Jorge Madlos, Julieta De Lima Sison, Rey Claro Cera Casambre, Abdias Guadiana, Alan Valera Jazmines, Benito Enriquez Tiamzon, Wilma Austria-Tiamzon, Adelberto Albayalde Silva, Ma. Concepcion Araneta-Bocala, Dionesio Micabolo, Myrna Sularte, Tirso Lagora Alcantara, Pedro Heyrona Codaste, Tomas Dominodo, Ma. Loida Tuzo Magpatoc and Menandro Villanueva.
In an earlier Resolution No. 16, the ATC named 10 persons as terrorists including Esmael Abdulmalik, an alleged Islamic State (IS) fanatic connected with the Dawlah Islamiyah (DI).
Also tagged as terrorists in the resolution are nine other individuals affiliated with either the DI, Abu Sayyaf Group, or the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). They are Raden Abu, Esmael Abubakar, Muhiddin Animbang, Salahuddin Hassan, Radzmil Jannatul, Majan Sahidjuan, Faharudin Bonito Hadji Satar, Mudsrimar Sawadjaan, and Almujer Yadah.
ATC’s Resolution No. 12 designated as terrorists are the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA)
Resolution No. 13 issued last Dec. 9, designated as terrorists the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria in South-East Asia; Dawlatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masrik; Dawlatul Islamiyyah Waliyatul Mashriq; IS East Asia Division; Maute Group; Islamic State East Asia; Maute ISIS; Grupong ISIS; Grupo ISIS; Khilafah Islamiyah; KIM; Ansharul Khilafah; Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Bungos; Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter-Abubakar; Jama’atu al-Muhajirin wal Ansar fil Filibin; Daulah Islamiyah; and other Daesh-affiliated groups in the Philippines.
Last May, Sugay stressed that criminal charges, not only for violations of the ATA, may be filed against persons who have been designated terrorists.
“With regard to other actions against the designated individuals, if it can be determined that they violated relevant provisions of the ATA, the Revised Penal Code, and other laws and after appropriate proceedings, criminal complaints may be filed against them,” Sugay said.
“As a general rule, a request for delisting may be filed as often as the grounds therefor are discovered,” he explained.
But, Sugay said “no request may, however, be filed within six months from the time of the denial of a prior request,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Duterte Youth party-list group on Monday filed a resolution calling on the House of Representatives to demand the surrender or immediate arrest of communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels responsible for the landmine blast in Masbate City that took the lives of two civilians.
The group’s nominee, Rep. Ducielle Marie Cardema was referring to the recent death of Far Eastern University football player Kieth Absalon and his cousin Nolven Absalon who were killed in a landmine blast in Masbate City.