MANILA, Philippines – The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) will release on Thursday a list of individuals who have been designated as terrorists, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. told the Supreme Court during oral arguments on petitions against the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 on Wednesday.
Esperon disclosed this information when he spoke for the first time at the oral arguments on petitions seeking to nullify the anti-terror law.
Esperon said the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing New People’s Army and some of organizations linked to the communist group have already been designated by the ATC as terrorists.
He also answered in the affirmative when asked by Supreme Court Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang if individuals have also been designated as terrorists.
“I do not want to preempt the Anti-Terrorism Council because I have not seen yet the publication today or tomorrow, of the designation of several persons connected with the CPP-NPA, but we will do that,” Esperon told the high court.
“Are you at liberty to name these people since there have been designations already made?” Carandang asked.
“There is a resolution of the Anti-Terrorism Council but until we have published these in local papers, we will not name them publicly, your Honor. Tomorrow, they will come out in the papers,” said Esperon, who also serves as ATC vice chairperson.
Under Section 25 of the Anti-Terrorism Law, the ATC has the authority to designate individuals, group of individuals, organizations or associations as terrorists without a court hearing.
This will allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the assets of designated personalities or organizations.
Individuals tagged as terrorists have 15 days to file a request for delisting.
Meanwhile, Esperon stressed that the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Law is necessary in the country, especially at a time when terrorism continues to evolve and worsen.
The security adviser also expressed belief that the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 is better than the Human Security Act of 2007 that the new measure had repealed.
“We have the weakest anti-terrorism law if we refer the Human Security Act in this region or in the world. This is one reason probably that we are number 10 in the global terrorism index,” he said.
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