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Duterte unauthorized to declare groups as terrorists under anti-terror law: Lacson

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/06/15/lacson.jpg"/><figcaption>Sen. Panfilo Lacson delivers a manifestation in the Senate plenary on May 11, 2020. Henzberg Austria, Senate PRIB</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has no unilateral authority to declare an organization as a terrorist group under the newly signed anti-terror law, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.Duterte&#x27;s tirades against armed communist rebels should be considered as &quot;personal opinion of the president&quot; and not an &quot;official&quot; designation of the group as terrorists, Lacson told reporters in a text message.&quot;Only the Court of Appeals, under the Anti Terrorism Act of 2020 can order the proscription, not the ATC nor the president,&quot; Lacson said.&quot;There is a judicial process involved - meaning full court intervention via the Court of Appeals, complete with due notice and hearing,&quot; he said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/23/20/ang-utos-ko-upakan-mo-duterte-says-communists-number-1-threat-to-philippines">&#x27;Ang utos ko, upakan mo&#x27;: Duterte says communists &#x27;number 1&#x27; threat to Philippines</a></li></ul>The Department of Justice (DOJ) is also required to show proof in classifying an organization as a terrorist group, said Lacson, the principal sponsor of the law in the Senate.&quot;Even membership in a proscribed terrorist group goes through the same due process which the DOJ has to prove,&quot; he said.Should an individual or a group be &quot;designated&quot; as terrorists, &quot;it does not involve arrest and detention but a mere signal&quot; for the Anti-Terror Council to ask authorities to freeze their assets, Lacson said.&quot;Designation for the purpose of freezing the accounts and assets is not exempt from judicial scrutiny since the said designated individual or group can still file a petition with the CA to appeal,&quot; he said.&quot;It is not absolute or discretionary on the part of the ATC.&quot;Lacson&#x27;s comments came after the Philippine Army said that communist rebels may be covered by the law.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/10/20/communist-rebels-may-be-covered-in-anti-terror-bill-philippine-army">Communist rebels may be covered in anti-terror bill: Philippine Army</a></li></ul>In 2017, Duterte declared the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People&#x27;s Army as a terror group after peace talks with the group&#x27;s political arm broke down.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/05/17/duterte-declares-cpp-npa-as-terror-group">Duterte declares CPP-NPA as terror group</a></li></ul>A number of petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court questioning the anti-terror law that Duterte signed on July 3.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/08/20/1987-constitution-framers-ateneo-file-6th-petition-vs-new-anti-terror-law">1987 Constitution framers, Ateneo file 6th petition vs new anti-terror law</a></li></ul>

President Rodrigo Duterte has no unilateral authority to declare an organization as a terrorist group under the newly signed anti-terror law, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

President Rodrigo Duterte has no unilateral authority to declare an organization as a terrorist group under the newly signed anti-terror law, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

Duterte unauthorized to declare groups as terrorists under anti-terror law: Lacson

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Duterte unauthorized to declare groups as terrorists under anti-terror law: Lacson

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 09, 2020 08:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Panfilo Lacson

Ping Lacson

Anti-Terror Law

NPA

CPP

communism

communist rebels

terrorism

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