DOJ exec: Council still crafting internal rules on how to remove names from terror list

Authorities are still crafting rules which would guide the process for removing names from a government list of suspected terrorists, an official said Tuesday.

Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said they will try to finish the internal rules before next week and submit them to the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).

"We are in the process of crafting the rules. We hope to submit the rules for the ATC's consideration within the month," said Sugay, who speaks for the council on matters relating to the anti-terrorism law's implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

The IRR states that ATC resolutions designating individuals or groups as terrorists will be published on the council's website, in the Official Gazette, and in a national newspaper.

Those "designated" may seek to be delisted on the grounds of mistaken identity, a change in circumstances, newly discovered evidence, death, dissolution of designated organizations, among others that would show the designation has no basis.

Activists have criticized the provision for the publication of a list of supposed terrorists, saying it would be the "mother of all red-tagging," referring to the act of labeling people and groups as communist rebels or fronts.

In many cases, red-tagging preceded the murders of activists and human rights workers in the Philippines.

Many of the petitioners who have questioned the anti-terrorism law before the Supreme Court (SC) fear the measure will lead to more arrests and prosecutions of members of "red-tagged" progressive organizations and "terror-tagged" Muslim Filipinos.

The SC will hold oral arguments on the 37 petitions assailing the law on January 19, 2021, around half a year since the anti-terror law took effect. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News