FIVE months after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Anti-Terror Law, the government has tagged at least 18 groups as terrorists.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also hinted on freezing the assets of those considered by authorities as “terrorists” and “terrorist groups” under the new Anti-Terror law, which may have implications on freezing of assets.
Despite heavy opposition from various groups over concerns it could lead to human rights violations, the ATC approved two resolutions designating the following as “terrorist organizations, associations, and/or groups:”
- Communist Party of the Philippines
- New People’s Army / Bagong Hukbong Bayan
- Islamic State 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 Fighters-Abubakar
- Jama’atu al-Muhajirin wal Ansar fil Filibin
- Daulah Islamiyah
- other Daesh-affiliated groups in the Philippines
The ATC resolutions were signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the ATC chairperson, and approved by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., who serves as vice chair of the ATC.
ATC Resolution No. 12 for the CPP-NPA cited as basis for the designation the proscription case which the Department of Justice (DOJ), under then Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, filed before a Manila court in February 2018, listing 649 individuals as members.