PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 968
As used in
ESTABLISHING A PROBATION SYSTEM,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
SECTION 1. Title and Scope of the Decree. This
Decree shall be known as the Probation Law of 1976. It
shall apply to all offenders except those entitled to the
benefits under the provisions of Presidential Decree
numbered Six Hundred and three and similar laws.
SECTION 2. Purpose. This Decree shall be
interpreted so as to:
(a) promote the correction and
rehabilitation of an offender by
providing him with individualized
treatment;
(b) provide an opportunity for the
reformation of a penitent offender
which might be less probable if he
were to serve a prison sentence;
and cdasia
(c) prevent the commission of offenses.
SECTION 3. Meaning of Terms.
this Decree, the following shall, unless the context
otherwise requires, be construed thus:
(a) "Probation" is a disposition under
which a defendant, after conviction
and sentence, is released subject
to conditions imposed by the court
and to the supervision of
a probation officer.
(b) "Probationer" means a person placed
on probation.
(c) "Probation Officer" means one who
investigates for the court a referral
for probation or supervises a
probationer or both.
SECTION 4. Grant of Probation. Subject to
the provisions of this Decree, the court may, after it
shall have convicted and sentenced a defendant and
upon application at any time of said defendant,
suspend the execution of said sentence and place the
defendant on probation for such period and upon such
terms and conditions as it may deem best.
 Probation may be granted whether the
sentence imposes a term of imprisonment or a fine
only. An application for probation shall be filed with
the trial court, with notice to the appellate court if an
appeal has been taken from the sentence of
conviction. The filing of the application shall be
deemed a waiver of the right to appeal, or the
automatic withdrawal of a pending appeal. An order
granting or denying probation shall not be
appealable.
SECTION 5. Post-sentence Investigation. No person
shall be placed on probation except upon prior
investigation by the probation officer and a
determination by the court that the ends of justice
and the best interest of the public as well as that of
the defendant will be served thereby. C
SECTION 6. Form of Investigation Report. The
investigation report to be submitted by
the probation officer under Section 5 hereof shall be
in the form prescribed by
the Probation Administrator and approved by the
Secretary of Justice.
SECTION 7. Period for Submission of Investigation
Report. The probation officer shall submit to the
court the investigation report on a defendant not
later than sixty days from receipt of the order of said
court to conduct the investigation. The court shall
resolve the petition forprobation not later than five
days after receipt of said report.
Pending submission of the investigation report
and the resolution of the petition, the defendant may
be allowed on temporary liberty under his bail filed in
the criminal case; Provided, That, in case where no
bail was filed or that the defendant is incapable of
filing one, the court may allow the release of the
defendant on recognizance to the custody of a
responsible member of the community who shall
guarantee his appearance whenever required by the
court.
SECTION 8. Criteria for Placing an Offender
on Probation. In determining whether an offender
may be placed on probation, the court shall consider all
information relative to the character, antecedents,
environment, mental and physical condition of the
offender, and available institutional and community
resources. Probation shall be denied if the court finds
that:
 (a) the offender is in need of correctional
treatment that can be provided
most effectively by his
commitment to an institution; or
(b) there is undue risk that during the
period of probation the offender
will commit another crime; or
(c) probation will depreciate the
seriousness of the offense
committed.
SECTION 9. Disqualified Offenders. The benefits of
this Decree shall not be extended to those:
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(a) sentenced to serve a maximum term
of imprisonment of more than six
years;
(b) convicted of any offense against the
security of the State;
(c) who have previously been convicted by
final judgment of an offense
punished by imprisonment of not
less than one month and one day
and/or a fine of not less than Two
Hundred Pesos;
(d) who have been once
on probation under the provisions
of this Decree; and
(e) who are already serving sentence at
the time the substantive provisions
of this Decree became applicable
pursuant to Section 33 hereof.
SECTION 10. Conditions of Probation.
Every probation order issued by the court shall contain
conditions requiring that the probationer shall:
(a) present himself to
the probation officer designated to
undertake his supervision at such
place as may be specified in the
order within seventy-two hours
from receipt of said order;
(b) report to the probation officer at least
once a month at such time and
place as specified by said officer.
The court may also require the probationer to:
(a) cooperate with a program of
supervision;
(b) meet his family responsibilities; aisa dc
(c) devote himself to a specific
employment and not to change
said employment without the prior
written approval of
theprobation officer;
(d) undergo medical, psychological or
psychiatric examination and
treatment and enter and remain in
a specified institution, when
required for that purpose;
(e) pursue a prescribed secular study or
vocational training;
(f) attend or reside in a facility established
for instruction, recreation or
residence of persons on probation;
(g) refrain from visiting houses of ill-
repute;
(h) abstain from drinking intoxicating
beverages to excess;
(i) permit the probation officer or an
authorized social worker to visit his
home and place of work;
(j) reside at premises approved by it and
not to change his residence
without its prior written approval;
or
(k) satisfy any other condition related to
the rehabilitation of the defendant
and not unduly restrictive of his
liberty or incompatible with his
freedom of conscience.
SECTION 11. Effectivity of Probation Order.
A probation order shall take effect upon its issuance,
at which time the court shall inform the offender of
the consequences thereof and explain that upon his
failure to comply with any of the conditions
prescribed in the said order or his commission of
another offense, he shall serve the penalty imposed
for the offense under which he was placed
on probation.
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SECTION 12. Modification of Condition of Probation.
During the period of probation, the court may, upon
application of either the probationer or
the probation officer, revise or modify the conditions or
period of probation. The court shall notify either the
 probationer or theprobation officer of the filing of such
an application so as to give both parties an opportunity
to be heard thereon.
The court shall inform in writing
the probation officer and the probationer of any
change in the period or conditions of probation.
SECTION 13. Control and Supervision of Probationer.
The probationer and his probation program shall
be under the control of the court who placed him
on probation subject to actual supervision and
visitation by a probation officer.
Whenever a probationer is permitted to reside
in a place under the jurisdiction of another court,
control over him shall be transferred to the Executive
Judge of the Court of First Instance of that place, and
in such a case, a copy of the probation order, the
investigation report and other pertinent records shall
be furnished said Executive Judge. Thereafter, the
Executive Judge to whom jurisdiction over the
probationer is transferred shall have the power with
respect to him that was previously possessed by the
court which granted the probation.
SECTION 14. Period of Probation.
(a) The period of probation of a defendant
sentenced to a term of
imprisonment of not more than
one year shall not exceed two
years, and in all other cases, said
period shall not exceed six years.casia
(b) When the sentence imposes a fine
only and the offender is made to
serve subsidiary imprisonment in
case of insolvency, the period
of probation shall not be less than
nor be more than twice the total
number of days of subsidiary
imprisonment as computed at the
rate established, in Article thirty-
nine of the Revised Penal Code, as
amended.
SECTION 15. Arrest of Probationer; Subsequent
Disposition. At any time during probation, the court
may issue a warrant for the arrest of a probationer for
violation of any of the conditions of probation. The
probationer, once arrested and detained, shall
immediately be brought before the court for a
hearing, which may be informal and summary, of the
violation charged. The defendant may be admitted to
bail pending such hearing. In such a case, the
provisions regarding release on bail of persons
charged with a crime shall be applicable to
probationers arrested under this provision. If the
violation is established, the court may revoke or
continue his probation and modify the conditions
thereof. If revoked, the court shall order the
probationer to serve the sentence originally imposed.
An order revoking the grant ofprobation or modifying
the terms and conditions thereof shall not be
appealable.
SECTION 16. Termination of Probation. After the
period of probation and upon consideration of the
report and recommendation of the probation officer,
the court may order the final discharge of the
probationer upon finding that he has fulfilled the terms
and conditions of his probation and thereupon the case
is deemed terminated.
The final discharge of the probationer shall
operate to restore to him all civil rights lost or
suspended as a result of his conviction and to fully
discharge his liability for any fine imposed as to the
offense for which probation was granted.
The probationer and the probation officer shall
each be furnished with a copy of such order.
SECTION 17. Confidentiality of Records. The
investigation report and the supervision history of a
probationer obtained under this Decree shall be
privileged and shall not be disclosed directly or
indirectly to anyone other than
the Probation Administration or the court concerned,
except that the court, in its discretion, may permit the
probationer or his attorney to inspect the
aforementioned documents or parts thereof
whenever the best interest of the probationer makes
such disclosure desirable or helpful: Provided, Further,
That, any government office or agency engaged in
the correction or rehabilitation of offenders may, if
necessary, obtain copies of said documents for its
official use from the proper court or the
Administration
.
SECTION18. The Probation Administration. There
is hereby created under the Department of Justice an
agency to be known as theProbation Administration
herein referred to as the Administration, which shall
exercise general supervision over all probationers.
The Administration shall have such staff,
operating units and personnel as may be necessary
for the proper execution of its functions.
SECTION 19. Probation Administrator. The
Administration shall be headed by
the Probation Administrator, hereinafter referred to
as the Administrator, who shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines. He shall hold office
during good behavior and shall not be removed
except for cause.
The Administrator shall receive an annual
salary of at least forty thousand pesos. His powers
and duties shall be to:
(a) act as the executive officer of the
Administration;
(b) exercise supervision and control over
all probation officers;
(c) make annual reports to the Secretary
of Justice, in such form as the latter
may prescribe, concerning the
operation, administration and
improvement of
the probation system; cdt
(d) promulgate, subject to the approval of
the Secretary of Justice, the
necessary rules relative to the
methods and procedures of
the probation process;
(e) recommend to the Secretary of Justice
the appointment of the
subordinate personnel of his
Administration and other offices
established in this Decree; and
(f) generally, perform such duties and
exercise such powers as may be
necessary or incidental to achieve
the objectives of this Decree.
SECTION 20. Assistant Probation Administrator.
There shall be an Assistant Probation Administrator
who shall assist the Administrator and perform such
duties as may be assigned to him by the latter and as
may be provided by law. In the absence of the
Administrator, he shall act as head of the
Administration.
He shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines and shall receive an annual salary of at
least thirty-six thousand pesos.
SECTION 21. Qualifications of the Administrator and
Assistant Probation Administrator. To be eligible for
appointment as Administrator or
Assistant Probation Administrator, a person must be
at least thirty-five years of age, holder of a master's
degree or its equivalent in either criminology, social
work, corrections, penology, psychology, sociology,
public administration, law, police science, police
administration, or related fields, and should have at
least five years of supervisory experience, or be a
member of the Philippine Bar with at least seven
years of supervisory experience.Cd
SECTION 22. Regional
Office; Regional Probation Officer. The
Administration shall have regional offices organized
in accordance with the field service area patterns
established under the Integrated Reorganization
Plan.
Such regional offices shall be headed by a
Regional Probation Officer who shall be appointed by
President of the Philippines in accordance with the
Integrated Reorganization Plan and upon the
recommendation of the Secretary of Justice.
The Regional Probation Officer shall exercise
supervision and control over all probation officer
within his jurisdiction and such duties as may be
assigned to him by the Administrator. He shall have
an annual salary of at least twenty-four thousand
pesos.
He shall, whenever necessary, be assisted by
an Assistant Regional Probation Officer who shall also
be appointed by the President of the Philippines,
upon recommendation of the Secretary of Justice,
with an annual salary of at least twenty thousand
pesos.
SECTION 23. Provincial and City Probation Officers.
There shall be at least one probation officer in each
province and city who shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Justice upon recommendation of the
Administrator and in accordance with civil
service law and rules.
The Provincial or City Probation Officer shall
receive an annual salary of at least eighteen thousand
four hundred pesos.
His duties shall be to:
(a) investigate all persons referred to him
for investigation by the proper
court or the Administrator;
(b) instruct all probationers under his
supervision or that of
 the probation aide on the terms
and conditions of their probation;
(c) keep himself informed of the conduct
and condition of probationers
under his charge and use all
suitable methods to bring about an
improvement in their conduct and
conditions;
(d) maintain a detailed record of his work
and submit such written reports as
may be required by the
Administration or the court having
jurisdiction over the probationer
under his supervision;
(e) prepare a list of qualified residents of
the province or city where he is
assigned who are willing to act
as probation aides;
(f) supervise the training
of probation aides and oversee the
latter's supervision of
probationers;
(g) exercise supervision and control over
all field assistants, probation aides
and other personnel; and
(h) perform such duties as may be
assigned by the court or the
Administration.
SECTION 24. Miscellaneous Powers of Provincial and
City Probation Officers. Provincial or
City Probation Officers shall have the authority within
their territorial jurisdiction to administer oaths and
acknowledgments and to take depositions in
connection with their duties and functions under this
Decree. They shall also have, with respect to
probationers under their care, the powers of a police
officer.
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SECTION 25. Qualifications of Regional, Assistant
Regional, Provincial, and City Probation Officers. No
person shall be appointed Regional or Assistant
Regional or Provincial or City Probation Officer unless
he possesses at least a bachelor's degree with a major
in social work, sociology, psychology, criminology,
penology, corrections, police science, police
administration, or related fields and has at least three
years of experience in work requiring any of the
abovementioned disciplines, or is a member of the
Philippine Bar with at least three years of supervisory
experience.
Whenever practicable, the Provincial or
City Probation Officer shall be appointed from among
qualified residents of the province or city where he
will be assigned to work.
SECTION 26. Organization. Within twelve months
from the approval of this Decree, the Secretary of
Justice shall organize the administrative structure of
the Administration and the other agencies created
herein. During said period, he shall also determine the
staffing patterns of the regional, provincial and
city probation offices with the end in view of
achieving maximum efficiency and economy in the
operations of the probation system.
SECTION 27. Field Assistants, Subordinate Personnel.
Provincial or City Probation Officers shall be
assisted by such field assistants and subordinate
personnel as may be necessary to enable them to
carry out their duties effectively.
SECTION 28. Probation Aides. To assist the
Provincial or City Probation Officers in the
supervision of probationers,
the ProbationAdministrator may appoint citizens of
good repute and probity to act as probation aides.
Probation Aides shall not receive any regular
compensation for services except for reasonable
travel allowance. They shall hold office for such
period as may be determined by
the Probation Administrator. Their qualifications and
maximum case loads shall be provided in the rules
promulgated pursuant to this Decree. Cda
SECTION 29. Violation of Confidential Nature
of Probation Records. The penalty of imprisonment
ranging from six months and one day to six years and
a fine ranging from six hundred to six thousand pesos
shall be imposed upon any person who violates
Section 17 hereof.
SECTION 30. Appropriations. There is hereby
authorized the appropriation of the sum of Six Million
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos or so much as may be
necessary, out of any funds in the National Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, to carry out the purposes
of this Decree. Thereafter, the amount of at least Ten
Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos or so much as
may be necessary shall be included in the annual
appropriations of the national government.
SECTION 31. Repealing Clause. All provisions of
existing laws, orders and regulations contrary to or
inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.
SECTION 32. Separability of Provisions. If any part,
section or provision of this Decree shall be held
invalid or unconstitutional, no other parts, sections or
provisions hereof shall be affected thereby.
SECTION 33. Effectivity. This Decree shall take
effect upon its approval: Provided, However, That, the
application of its substantive provisions concerning
the grant of probation shall only take effect twelve
months after the certification by the Secretary of
Justice to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that
the administrative structure of
the Probation Administration and of the other
agencies has been organized.
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 115
PROVIDING FOR THE REGULATION
OF TRUST RECEIPT TRANSACTIONS
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Decree shall be known
as the Trust Receipts Law.
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby
declared to be the policy of the state
(a) to encourage and promote the use
of trustreceipts as an additional and convenient aid to
commerce and trade;
(b) to provide for the regulation of trust receipt
transactions in order to assure the protection of the
rights and the enforcement of obligations of the parties
involved therein; and
(c) to declare the misuse and/or misappropriation of
goods or proceeds realized from the sale of goods,
documents or instruments released
under trust receipts as a criminal offense punishable
under Article Three hundred and fifteen of the Revised
Penal Code.
SECTION 3. Definition of terms. As used in this
Decree, unless the context otherwise requires, the
term cd
(a) "Document" shall mean written or
printed evidence of title to goods.
(b) "Entrustee" shall refer to the person
having or taking possession of
goods, documents or instruments
under a trust receipt transaction,
and any successor in interest of
such person for the purpose or
purposes specified in
the trust receipt agreement.
(c) "Entruster" shall refer to the person
holding title over the goods,
documents, or instruments subject
of a trust receipt transaction, and
any successor in interest of such
person.
(d) "Goods" shall include chattels and
personal property other than:
money, things in action, or things
so affixed to land as to become a
part thereof.
(e) "Instrument" means any negotiable
instrument as defined in the
Negotiable Instrument Law; any
certificate of stock, or bond or
debenture for the payment of
money issued by a public or private
corporation, or any certificate of
deposit, participation certificate or
receipt, any credit or investment
instrument of a sort marketed in
the ordinary course of business or
finance, whereby the entrustee,
after the issuance of
the trust receipt, appears by virtue
of possession and the face of the
instrument to be the owner.
"Instrument" shall not include a
document as defined in this
Decree.
( f ) "Purchase" means taking by sale,
conditional sale, lease, mortgage,
or pledge, legal or equitable.
(g) "Purchaser" means any person taking
by purchase.
(h) "Security Interest" means a property
interest in goods, documents or
instruments to secure performance
of some obligations of the
entrustee or of some third persons
to the entruster and includes title,
whether or not expressed to be
absolute, whenever such title is in
substance taken or retained for
security only.
(i) "Person" means, as the case may be, an
individual, trustee, receiver, or
other fiduciary, partnership,
corporation, business trustor other
association, and two or more
persons having a joint or common
interest.
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( j) "Trust Receipt" shall refer to the
written or printed document
signed by the entrustee in favor of
the entruster containing terms and
conditions substantially complying
with the provisions of this Decree.
No further formality of execution
or authentication shall be
necessary to the validity of
a trust receipt.
(k) "Value" means any consideration
sufficient to support a simple
contract.
SECTION 4. What constitutes a trust receipt
transaction. A trust receipt transaction, within the
meaning of this Decree, is any transaction by and
between a person referred to in this Decree as the
entruster, and another person referred to in this
Decree as the entrustee, whereby the entruster, who
owns or holds absolute title or security interests over
certain specified goods, documents or instruments,
releases the same to the possession of the entrustee
upon the latter's execution and delivery to the
entruster of a signed document called a "trustreceipt"
wherein the entrustee binds himself to hold the
designated goods, documents or instruments
in trust for the entruster and to sell or otherwise
dispose of the goods, documents or instruments with
the obligation to turn over to the entruster the
proceeds thereof to the extent of the amount owing
to the entruster or as appears in the trust receipt or
the goods, documents or instruments themselves if
they are unsold or not otherwise disposed of, in
accordance with the terms and conditions specified in
the trust receipt, or for other purposes substantially
equivalent to any of the following: acd
1. In the case of goods or documents, (a)
to sell the goods or procure their
sale; or (b) to manufacture or
process the goods with the
purpose of ultimate sale: Provided,
That, in the case of goods
delivered under trust receipt for
the purpose of manufacturing or
processing before its ultimate sale,
the entruster shall retain its title
over the goods whether in its
original or processed form until the
entrustee has complied fully with
his obligation under
the trust receipt; or (c) to load,
unload, ship or transship or
otherwise deal with them in a
manner preliminary or necessary
to their sale; or
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2. In the case of instruments, (a) to sell or
procure their sale or exchange; or
(b) to deliver them to a principal; or
(c) to effect the consummation of
some transactions involving
delivery to a depository or register;
or (d) to effect their presentation,
collection or renewal.
The sale of goods, documents or instruments
by a person in the business of selling goods,
documents or instruments for profit who, at the
outset of the transaction, has, as against the buyer,
general property rights in such goods, documents or
instruments, or who sells the same to the buyer on
credit, retaining title or other interest as security for
the payment of the purchase price, does not
constitute a trust receipt transaction and is outside
the purview and coverage of this Decree. Cdt
SECTION 5. Form of trust receipts; contents.
A trust receipt need not be in any particular form, but
every such receipt must substantially contain (a) a
description of the goods, documents or instruments
subject of the trust receipt; (2) the total invoice value
of the goods and the amount of the draft to be paid
by the entrustee; (3) an undertaking or a commitment
of the entrustee (a) to hold in trust for the entruster
the goods, documents or instruments therein
described; (b) to dispose of them in the manner
provided for in the trust receipt; and (c) to turn over
the proceeds of the sale of the goods, documents or
instruments to the entruster to the extent of the
amount owing to the entruster or as appears in
the trust receipt or to return the goods, documents or
instruments in the event of their non-sale within the
period specified therein.
The trust receipt may contain other terms and
conditions agreed upon by the parties in addition to
those hereinabove enumerated provided that such
terms and conditions shall not be contrary to the
provisions of this Decree, any existing laws, public
policy or morals, public order or good customs.cd i
SECTION 6. Currency in which a trust receipt may be
denominated. A trust receipt may be denominated
in Philippine currency or any foreign currency
acceptable and eligible as part of international
reserves of the Philippines, the provisions of
existing law, executive orders, rules and regulations
to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, however,
That in the case of trust receipts denominated in
foreign currency, payment shall be made in its
equivalent in Philippine currency computed at the
prevailing exchange rate on the date the proceeds of
sale of the goods, documents or instruments held
in trust by the entrustee are turned over to the
entruster or on such other date as may be stipulated
in the trust receipt or other agreements executed
between the entruster and the entrustee.
SECTION 7. Rights of the entruster. The entruster
shall be entitled to the proceeds from the sale of the
goods, documents or instruments released under
a trust receipt to the entrustee to the extent of the
amount owing to the entruster or as appears in
the trust receipt, or to the return of the goods,
documents or instruments in case of non-sale, and to
the enforcement of all other rights conferred on him
in thetrust receipt provided such are not contrary to
the provisions of this Decree.
cd i
The entruster may cancel the trust and take
possession of the goods, documents or instruments
subject of the trust or of the proceeds realized
therefrom at any time upon default or failure of the
entrustee to comply with any of the terms and
conditions of the trust receipt or any other agreement
between the entruster and the entrustee, and the
entruster in possession of the goods, documents or
instruments may, on or after default, give notice to
the entrustee of the intention to sell, and may, not
less than five days after serving or sending of such
notice, sell the goods, documents or instruments at
public or private sale, and the entruster may, at a
public sale, become a purchaser. The proceeds of any
such sale, whether public or private, shall be applied
(a) to the payment of the expenses thereof; (b) to the
payment of the expenses of re-taking, keeping and
storing the goods, documents or instruments; (c) to
the satisfaction of the entrustee's indebtedness to the
entruster. The entrustee shall receive any surplus but
shall be liable to the entruster for any deficiency.
Notice of sale shall be deemed sufficiently given if in
writing, and either personally served on the entrustee
or sent by post-paid ordinary mail to the entrustee's
last known business address.
SECTION 8. Entruster not responsible on sale by
entrustee. The entruster holding a security interest
shall not, merely by virtue of such interest or having
given the entrustee liberty of sale or other disposition
of the goods, documents or instruments under the
terms of thetrust receipt transaction, be responsible
as principal or as vendor under any sale or contract to
sell made by the entrustee.
SECTION 9. Obligations of the entrustee. The
entrustee shall (1) hold the goods, documents or
instruments in trust for the entruster and shall
dispose of them strictly in accordance with the terms
and conditions of the trust receipt; (2) receive the
proceeds in trust for the entruster and turn over the
same to the entruster to the extent of the amount
owing to the entruster or as appears on
the trust receipt; (3) insure the goods for their total
value against loss from fire, theft, pilferage or other
casualties; (4) keep said goods or proceeds thereof
whether in money or whatever form, separate and
capable of identification as property of the entruster;
(5) return the goods, documents or instruments in the
event of non-sale or upon demand of the entruster;
and (6) observe all other terms and conditions of
the trust receipt not contrary to the provisions of this
Decree.
SECTION 10. Liability of entrustee for loss. The risk
of loss shall be borne by the entrustee. Loss of goods,
documents or instruments which are the subject of
a trust receipt, pending their disposition, irrespective
of whether or not it was due to the fault or negligence
of the entrustee, shall not extinguish his obligation to
the entruster for the value thereof.Cd
SECTION 11. Rights of purchaser for value and in good
faith. Any purchaser of goods from an entrustee
with right to sell, or of documents or instruments
through their customary form of transfer, who buys
the goods, documents, or instruments for value and
in good faith from the entrustee, acquires said goods,
documents or instruments free from the entruster's
security interest.
SECTION 12. Validity of entruster's security interest as
against creditors. The entruster's security interest in
goods, documents, or instruments pursuant to the
written terms of a trust receipt shall be valid as
against all creditors of the entrustee for the duration
of the trustreceipt agreement.
SECTION 13. Penalty clause. The failure of an
entrustee to turn over the proceeds of the sale of the
goods, documents or instruments covered by
a trust receipt to the extent of the amount owing to
the entruster or as appears in the trust receipt or to
return said goods, documents or instruments if they
were not sold or disposed of in accordance with the
terms of the trust receipt shall constitute the crime of
estafa, punishable under the provisions of Article
Three hundred and fifteen, paragraph one (b) of Act
Numbered Three thousand eight hundred and fifteen,
as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal
Code. If the violation or offense is committed by a
corporation, partnership, association or other juridical
entities, the penalty provided for in this Decree shall
be imposed upon the directors, officers, employees or
other officials or persons therein responsible for the
offense, without prejudice to the civil liabilities arising
from the criminal offense. aisa dc
SECTION 14. Cases not covered by this Decree.
Cases not provided for in this Decree shall be
governed by the applicable provisions of existing
laws.
SECTION 15. Separability clause. If any provision or
section of this Decree or the application thereof to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the other
provisions or sections hereof and the application of
such provisions or sections to other persons or
circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 16. Repealing clause. All Acts
inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed.

SECTION 17. This Decree shall take effect
immediately.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10175
AN ACT DEFINING CYBERCRIME, PROVIDING FOR
THE PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION, SUPPRESSION
AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
CHAPTER I
Preliminary Provisions
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the
"Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012".
HaTAEc
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. The State
recognizes the vital role of information and
communications industries such as content
production, telecommunications, broadcasting,
electronic commerce, and data processing, in the
nation's overall social and economic development.
The State also recognizes the importance of
providing an environment conducive to the
development, acceleration, and rational application
and exploitation of information and communications
technology (ICT) to attain free, easy, and intelligible
access to exchange and/or delivery of information;
and the need to protect and safeguard the integrity of
computer, computer and communications systems,
networks, and databases, and the confidentiality,
integrity, and availability of information and data
stored therein, from all forms of misuse, abuse, and
illegal access by making punishable under the law
such conduct or conducts. In this light, the State shall
adopt sufficient powers to effectively prevent and
combat such offenses by facilitating their detection,
investigation, and prosecution at both the domestic
and international levels, and by providing
arrangements for fast and reliable international
cooperation.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of
this Act, the following terms are hereby defined as
follows:
(a) Access refers to the instruction,
communication with, storing data in,
retrieving data from, or otherwise
making use of any resources of a
 computer system or communication
network.
(b) Alteration refers to the modification or
change, in form or substance, of an
existing computer data or program.
(c) Communication refers to the transmission of
information through ICT media,
including voice, video and other forms
of data.
(d) Computer refers to an electronic, magnetic,
optical, electrochemical, or other data
processing or communications device,
or grouping of such devices, capable of
performing logical, arithmetic, routing,
or storage functions and which includes
any storage facility or equipment or
communications facility or equipment
directly related to or operating in
conjunction with such device. It covers
any type of computer device including
devices with data processing
capabilities like mobile phones, smart
phones, computer networks and other
devices connected to the internet.
(e) Computer data refers to any representation
of facts, information, or concepts in a
form suitable for processing in a
computer system including a program
suitable to cause a computer system to
perform a function and includes
electronic documents and/or electronic
data messages whether stored in local
computer systems or online. caTIDE
(f) Computer program refers to a set of
instructions executed by the computer
to achieve intended results.
(g) Computer system refers to any device or
group of interconnected or related
devices, one or more of which, pursuant
to a program, performs automated
processing of data. It covers any type of
device with data processing capabilities
including, but not limited to, computers
and mobile phones. The device
consisting of hardware and software
may include input, output and storage
components which may stand alone or
be connected in a network or other
similar devices. It also includes
 computer data storage devices or
media.
(h) Without right refers to either: (i) conduct
undertaken without or in excess of
authority; or (ii) conduct not covered by
established legal defenses, excuses,
court orders, justifications, or relevant
principles under the law.
(i) Cyber refers to a computer or a computer
network, the electronic medium in which
online communication takes place.
(j) Critical infrastructure refers to the computer
systems, and/or networks, whether
physical or virtual, and/or the computer
programs, computer data and/or traffic
data so vital to this country that the
incapacity or destruction of or
interference with such system and
assets would have a debilitating impact
on security, national or economic
security, national public health and
safety, or any combination of those
matters.
(k) Cybersecurity refers to the collection of
tools, policies, risk management
approaches, actions, training, best
practices, assurance and technologies
that can be used to protect
the cyber environment and organization
and user's assets.
(l) Database refers to a representation of
information, knowledge, facts,
concepts, or instructions which are
being prepared, processed or stored or
have been prepared, processed or
stored in a formalized manner and
which are intended for use in a
computer system. TSacID
(m) Interception refers to listening to,
recording, monitoring or surveillance of
the content of communications,
including procuring of the content of
data, either directly, through access and
use of a computer system or indirectly,
through the use of electronic
eavesdropping or tapping devices, at
the same time that the communication
is occurring.
(n) Service provider refers to:
 (1) Any public or private entity that available on the basis of the
provides to users of its service service agreement or
the ability to communicate by arrangement; and
means of a computer system, (3) Any other available information on
and the site of the installation of
(2) Any other entity that processes or communication equipment,
stores computer data on behalf available on the basis of the
of such communication service or service agreement or
users of such service. arrangement. acADIT

(o) Subscriber's information refers to any (p) Traffic data or non-content data refers to
information contained in the form of any computer data other than the
computer data or any other form that is content of the communication
held by a service provider, relating to including, but not limited to, the
subscribers of its services other than communication's origin, destination,
traffic or content data and by which route, time, date, size, duration, or type
identity can be established: of underlying service.
(1) The type of communication service
used, the technical provisions CHAPTER II
taken thereto and the period of
service; Punishable Acts
(2) The subscriber's identity, postal or
geographic address, telephone SECTION 4. Cybercrime Offenses. The
and other access numbers, any following acts constitute the offense of cybercrime
assigned network address, billing punishable under this Act:
and payment information,
 (a) Offenses against the confidentiality, deleting, deteriorating, altering or
integrity and availability of computer data and suppressing computer data or program,
systems: electronic document, or electronic data
(1) Illegal Access. The access to the whole or message, without right or authority,
any part of a computer system without including the introduction or
right. transmission of viruses. aSTECA

(2) Illegal Interception. The interception (5) Misuse of Devices.

made by technical means without right (i) The use, production, sale,
of any non-public transmission of procurement, importation,
computer data to, from, or within a distribution, or otherwise making
computer system including available, without right, of:
electromagnetic emissions from a (aa) A device, including a
computer system carrying such computer program,
computer data. designed or adapted
(3) Data Interference. The intentional or primarily for the purpose
reckless alteration, damaging, deletion of committing any of the
or deterioration of computer data, offenses under this Act; or
electronic document, or electronic data (bb) A computer password,
message, without right, including the access code, or similar
introduction or transmission of viruses. data by which the whole
(4) System Interference. The intentional or any part of a computer
alteration or reckless hindering or system is capable of being
interference with the functioning of a accessed with intent that
computer or computer network by it be used for the purpose
inputting, transmitting, damaging,
 of committing any of the
offenses under this Act.
(ii) The possession of an item referred to
in paragraphs 5 (i) (aa) or (bb)
above with intent to use said
devices for the purpose of
committing any of the offenses
under this section.
(6) Cyber-squatting. The acquisition of a
domain name over the internet, in bad
faith to profit, mislead, destroy
reputation, and deprive others from
registering the same, if such a domain
name is:
(i) Similar, identical, or confusingly
similar to an existing trademark
registered with the appropriate
government agency at the time
of the domain name registration;
(ii) Identical or in any way similar with
the name of a person other than
the registrant, in case of a
personal name; and
(iii) Acquired without right or with
intellectual property interests in
it.
TDCAIS
(b) Computer-related Offenses:
(1) Computer-related Forgery.
(i) The input, alteration, or deletion of
any computer data without right
resulting in inauthentic data with
the intent that it be considered or
acted upon for legal purposes as
if it were authentic, regardless
whether or not the data is
directly readable and intelligible;
or
(ii) The act of knowingly using computer
data which is the product of
computer-related forgery as
defined herein, for the purpose of
perpetuating a fraudulent or
dishonest design.
(2) Computer-related Fraud. The
unauthorized input, alteration, or
deletion of computer data or program
or interference in the functioning of a
computer system, causing damage
 thereby with fraudulent
intent: Provided, That if no damage has
yet been caused, the penalty imposable
shall be one (1) degree lower.
(3) Computer-related Identity Theft. The
intentional acquisition, use, misuse,
transfer, possession, alteration or
deletion of identifying information
belonging to another, whether natural
or juridical, without right: Provided, That
if no damage has yet been caused, the
penalty imposable shall be one (1)
degree lower.
(c) Content-related Offenses:
(1) Cybersex. The willful engagement,
maintenance, control, or operation,
directly or indirectly, of any lascivious
exhibition of sexual organs or sexual
activity, with the aid of a computer
system, for favor or consideration.
(2) Child Pornography. The unlawful or
prohibited acts defined and punishable
by Republic Act No. 9775 or the Anti-
Child Pornography Act of 2009,
committed through a computer
system: Provided, That the penalty to be
imposed shall be (1) one degree higher
than that provided for
in Republic Act No. 9775. aTcHIC
(3) Unsolicited Commercial Communications.
The transmission of commercial
electronic communication with the use
of computer system which seek to
advertise, sell, or offer for sale products
and services are prohibited unless:
(i) There is prior affirmative consent
from the recipient; or
(ii) The primary intent of the
communication is for service
and/or administrative
announcements from the sender
to its existing users, subscribers
or customers; or
(iii) The following conditions are
present:
(aa) The commercial electronic
communication contains a
simple, valid, and reliable
way for the recipient to
reject receipt of further
 commercial electronic
messages (opt-out) from
the same source;
(bb) The commercial electronic
communication does not
purposely disguise the
source of the electronic
message; and
(cc) The commercial electronic
communication does not
purposely include
misleading information in
any part of the message in
order to induce the
recipients to read the
message.
(4) Libel. The unlawful or prohibited acts of by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special
libel as defined in Article 355 of
the Revised Penal Code, as amended,
committed through a computer system
or any other similar means which may
be devised in the future.
SECTION 5. Other Offenses. The
following acts shall also constitute an offense:
(a) Aiding or Abetting in the Commission of
Cybercrime. Any person who willfully
abets or aids in the commission of any
of the offenses enumerated in
this Act shall be held liable.
DECcAS
(b) Attempt in the Commission of Cybercrime.
Any person who willfully attempts to
commit any of the offenses enumerated
in thisAct shall be held liable.
SECTION 6. All crimes defined and penalized by
the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special
laws, if committed by, through and with the use of
information and communications technologies shall
be covered by the relevant provisions of
this Act: Provided, That the penalty to be imposed
shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for
laws, as the case may be.
SECTION 7. Liability Under Other Laws. A
prosecution under this Act shall be without prejudice
to any liability for violation of any provision of
the Revised Penal Code, as amended, or special laws.
CHAPTER III
 Penalties
SECTION 8. Penalties. Any person found guilty of
any of the punishable acts enumerated in Sections 4
(a) and 4 (b) of this Act shall be punishable with
imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine of at least
Two hundred thousand pesos (PhP200,000.00) up to
a maximum amount commensurate to the damage
incurred or both.
Any person found guilty of the
punishable act under Section 4 (a) (5) shall be
punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine
of not more than Five hundred thousand pesos
(PhP500,000.00) or both.
If punishable acts in Section 4 (a) are
committed against critical infrastructure, the penalty
of reclusion temporal or a fine of at least Five hundred
thousand pesos (PhP500,000.00) up to maximum
amount commensurate to the damage incurred or
both, shall be imposed. CaHcET
Any person found guilty of any of the
punishable acts enumerated in Section 4 (c) (1) of
this Act shall be punished with imprisonment
ofprision mayor or a fine of at least Two hundred
thousand pesos (PhP200,000.00) but not exceeding
One million pesos (PhP1,000,000.00) or both.
Any person found guilty of any of the
punishable acts enumerated in Section 4 (c) (2) of
this Act shall be punished with the penalties as
enumerated in Republic Act No. 9775 or the "Anti-
Child Pornography Act of 2009": Provided,That the
penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher
than that provided for in Republic Act No. 9775, if
committed through a computer system.
Any person found guilty of any of the
punishable acts enumerated in Section 4 (c) (3) shall
be punished with imprisonment of arresto mayor or a
fine of at least Fifty thousand pesos (PhP50,000.00)
but not exceeding Two hundred fifty thousand pesos
(PhP250,000.00) or both.
Any person found guilty of any of the
punishable acts enumerated in Section 5 shall be
punished with imprisonment one (1) degree lower
than that of the prescribed penalty for the offense or
a fine of at least One hundred thousand pesos
(PhP100,000.00) but not exceeding Five hundred
thousand pesos (PhP500,000.00) or both.
SECTION 9. Corporate Liability. When any of the
punishable acts herein defined are knowingly
committed on behalf of or for the benefit of a juridical
person, by a natural person acting either individually
or as part of an organ of the juridical person, who has
a leading position within, based on: (a) a power of
representation of the juridical person provided
the act committed falls within the scope of such
authority; (b) an authority to take decisions on behalf
of the juridical person: Provided, That
the act committed falls within the scope of such
authority; or (c) an authority to exercise control
within the juridical person, the juridical person shall
be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least double
the fines imposable in Section 7 up to a maximum of
Ten million pesos (PhP10,000,000.00).
If the commission of any of the
punishable acts herein defined was made possible
due to the lack of supervision or control by a natural
person referred to and described in the preceding
paragraph, for the benefit of that juridical person by a
natural person acting under its authority, the juridical
person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at
least double the fines imposable in Section 7 up to a
maximum of Five million pesos (PhP5,000,000.00). TcIAHS
The liability imposed on the juridical person
shall be without prejudice to the criminal liability of
the natural person who has committed the offense.
CHAPTER IV
Enforcement and Implementation
SECTION 10. Law Enforcement Authorities. The
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the
Philippine National Police (PNP) shall be responsible
for the efficient and effective law enforcement of the
provisions of this Act. The NBI and the PNP shall
organize a cybercrime unit or center manned by
special investigators to exclusively handle cases
involving violations of this Act.
SECTION 11. Duties of Law Enforcement
Authorities. To ensure that the technical nature of
cybercrime and its prevention is given focus and
considering the procedures involved for international
cooperation, law enforcement authorities specifically
the computer or technology crime divisions or units
responsible for the investigation of cybercrimes are
required to submit timely and regular reports
including pre-operation, post-operation and
investigation results and such other documents as
may be required to the Department of Justice (DOJ)
for review and monitoring.
SECTION 12. Real-Time Collection of Traffic Data.
Law enforcement authorities, with due cause, shall be
authorized to collect or record by technical or
electronic means traffic data in real-time associated
with specified communications transmitted by means
of a computer system.
Traffic data refer only to the communication's
origin, destination, route, time, date, size, duration,
or type of underlying service, but not content, nor
identities.
All other data to be collected or seized or
disclosed will require a court warrant.
Service providers are required to cooperate
and assist law enforcement authorities in the
collection or recording of the above-stated
information. EHTISC
The court warrant required under this section
shall only be issued or granted upon written
application and the examination under oath or
affirmation of the applicant and the witnesses he may
produce and the showing: (1) that there are
reasonable grounds to believe that any of the crimes
enumerated hereinabove has been committed, or is
being committed, or is about to be committed; (2)
that there are reasonable grounds to believe that
evidence that will be obtained is essential to the
conviction of any person for, or to the solution of, or
to the preventionof, any such crimes; and (3) that
there are no other means readily available for
obtaining such evidence.
SECTION 13. Preservation of Computer Data. The
integrity of traffic data and subscriber information
relating to communication services provided by a
service provider shall be preserved for a minimum
period of six (6) months from the date of the
transaction. Content data shall be similarly preserved
for six (6) months from the date of receipt of the
order from law enforcement authorities requiring its
preservation.
Law enforcement authorities may order a one-
time extension for another six (6)
months: Provided, That once computer data
preserved, transmitted or stored by a service provider
is used as evidence in a case, the mere furnishing to
such service provider of the transmittal document to
the Office of the Prosecutor shall be deemed a
notification to preserve the computer data until the
termination of the case.
The service provider ordered to preserve
computer data shall keep confidential the order and
its compliance.
SECTION 14. Disclosure of Computer Data. Law
enforcement authorities, upon securing a court
warrant, shall issue an order requiring any person or
service provider to disclose or submit subscriber's
information, traffic data or relevant data in his/its
possession or control within seventy-two (72) hours
from receipt of the order in relation to a valid
complaint officially docketed and assigned for
investigation and the disclosure is necessary and
relevant for the purpose of investigation.
SECTION 15. Search, Seizure and Examination of
Computer Data. Where a search and seizure
warrant is properly issued, the law enforcement
authorities shall likewise have the following powers
and duties.
Within the time period specified in the
warrant, to conduct interception, as defined in
this Act, and:
(a) To secure a computer system or a computer
data storage medium; cASEDC
(b) To make and retain a copy of those
computer data secured;
(c) To maintain the integrity of the relevant
stored computer data;
(d) To conduct forensic analysis or examination
of the computer data storage medium;
and
(e) To render inaccessible or remove those
computer data in the accessed
computer or computer and
communications network.
Pursuant thereof, the law enforcement
authorities may order any person who has knowledge
about the functioning of the computer system and
the measures to protect and preserve the computer
data therein to provide, as is reasonable, the
necessary information, to enable the undertaking of
the search, seizure and examination.
 Law enforcement authorities may request for
an extension of time to complete the examination of
the computer data storage medium and to make a
return thereon but in no case for a period longer than
thirty (30) days from date of approval by the court.
SECTION 16. Custody of Computer Data. All
computer data, including content and traffic data,
examined under a proper warrant shall, within forty-
eight (48) hours after the expiration of the period
fixed therein, be deposited with the court in a sealed
package, and shall be accompanied by an affidavit of
the law enforcement authority executing it stating
the dates and times covered by the examination and
the law enforcement authority who may access the
deposit, among other relevant data. The law
enforcement authority shall also certify that no
duplicates or copies of the whole or any part thereof
have been made, or if made, that all such duplicates
or copies are included in the package deposited with
the court. The package so deposited shall not be
opened, or the recordings replayed, or used in
evidence, or their contents revealed, except upon
order of the court, which shall not be granted except
upon motion, with due notice and opportunity to be
heard to the person or persons whose conversation or
communications have been recorded.
SECTION 17. Destruction of Computer Data. Upon
expiration of the periods as provided in Sections 13
and 15, service providers and law enforcement
authorities, as the case may be, shall immediately
and completely destroy the computer data subject of
a preservation and examination. CaDATc
SECTION 18. Exclusionary Rule. Any evidence
procured without a valid warrant or beyond the
authority of the same shall be inadmissible for any
proceeding before any court or tribunal.
SECTION 19. Restricting or Blocking Access to
Computer Data. When a computer data is prima
facie found to be in violation of the provisions of
this Act, the DOJ shall issue an order to restrict or
block access to such computer data.
SECTION 20. Noncompliance. Failure to comply
with the provisions of Chapter IV hereof specifically
the orders from law enforcement authorities shall be
punished as a violation of Presidential Decree No.
1829 with imprisonment of prision correccional in its
maximum period or a fine of One hundred thousand
pesos (Php100,000.00) or both for each and every
noncompliance with an order issued by law
enforcement authorities.
CHAPTER V
Jurisdiction
SECTION 21. Jurisdiction. The Regional Trial Court
shall have jurisdiction over any violation of the
provisions of this Act including any violation
committed by a Filipino national regardless of the
place of commission. Jurisdiction shall lie if any of the
elements was committed within the Philippines or
committed with the use of any computer system
wholly or partly situated in the country, or when by
such commission any damage is caused to a natural
or juridical person who, at the time the offense was
committed, was in the Philippines.
There shall be designated special cybercrime
courts manned by specially trained judges to handle
cybercrime cases.
CHAPTER VI
International Cooperation
SECTION 22. General Principles Relating to
International Cooperation. All relevant international
instruments on international cooperation in criminal
matters, arrangements agreed on the basis of
uniform or reciprocal legislation, and domestic laws,
to the widest extent possible for the purposes of
investigations or proceedings concerning criminal
offenses related to computer systems and data, or for
the collection of evidence in electronic form of a
criminal offense shall be given full force and effect.
CHAPTER VII
Competent Authorities
SECTION 23. Department of Justice (DOJ). There is
hereby created an Office of Cybercrime within the
DOJ designated as the central authority in all matters
related to international mutual assistance and
extradition.
TcSaHC
SECTION 24. Cybercrime Investigation and
Coordinating Center. There is hereby created,
within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act,
an inter-agency body to be known as the Cybercrime
Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), under
the administrative supervision of the Office of the
President, for policy coordination among concerned
agencies and for the formulation and enforcement of
the national cybersecurity plan.
SECTION 25. Composition. The CICC shall be
headed by the Executive Director of the Information
and Communications Technology Office under the
(b) To coordinate the preparation of
appropriate and effective measures to
prevent and suppress cybercrime
activities as provided for in this Act;
(c) To monitor cybercrime cases being handled
by participating law enforcement and
prosecution agencies; DCISAE

Department of Science and Technology (ICTO-DOST) (d) To facilitate international cooperation on

as Chairperson with the Director of the NBI as Vice intelligence, investigations, training and
Chairperson; the Chief of the PNP; Head of the DOJ capacity building related to
Office of Cybercrime; and one (1) representative from cybercrimeprevention, suppression and
the private sector and academe, as members. The prosecution;
CICC shall be manned by a secretariat of selected
existing personnel and representatives from the (e) To coordinate the support and participation
different participating agencies. of the business sector, local government
units and nongovernment organizations
in cybercrime prevention programs and
SECTION 26. Powers and Functions. The CICC shall other related projects;
have the following powers and functions: (f) To recommend the enactment of
(a) To formulate a national cybersecurity plan appropriate laws, issuances, measures
and extend immediate assistance for and policies;
the suppression of real-time (g) To call upon any government agency to
commission of cybercrime offenses render assistance in the
through a computer emergency accomplishment of the CICC's
response team (CERT); mandated tasks and functions; and
 (h) To perform all other matters related to
cybercrime prevention and suppression,
including capacity building and such
other functions and duties as may be
necessary for the proper
implementation of this Act.
CHAPTER VIII
Final Provisions
SECTION 27. Appropriations. The amount of Fifty
million pesos (PhP50,000,000.00) shall be
appropriated annually for the implementation of
this Act.
SECTION 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations.
The ICTO-DOST, the DOJ and the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall jointly
formulate the necessary rules and regulations within
ninety (90) days from approval of this Act, for its
effective implementation.
SECTION 29. Separability Clause. If any provision
of this Act is held invalid, the other provisions not
affected shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 30. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees or
rules inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly. Section 33 (a)
of Republic Act No. 8792 or the "Electronic
Commerce Act" is hereby modified accordingly.
SECTION 31. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after the completion of its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.
AN ACT TO SECURE THE STATE AND PROTECT
OUR PEOPLE FROM TERRORISM
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall henceforth be
known as the "Human Security Act of 2007."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared a policy of
the State to protect life, liberty, and property from
acts of terrorism, to condemn terrorism as inimical
and dangerous to the national security of the country
and to the welfare of the people, and to make
terrorism a crime against the Filipino people, against
humanity, and against the law of nations.
In the implementation of the policy stated above, the
State shall uphold the basic rights and fundamental
liberties of the people as enshrined in the
Constitution.
The State recognizes that the fight against terrorism
requires a comprehensive approach, comprising
political, economic, diplomatic, military, and legal
means duly taking into account the root causes of
terrorism without acknowledging these as
justifications for terrorist and/or criminal activities.
Such measures shall include conflict management
and post-conflict peace-building, addressing the
roots of conflict by building state capacity and
promoting equitable economic development.
Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted as a
curtailment, restriction or diminution of
constitutionally recognized powers of the executive
branch of the government. It is to be understood,
however that the exercise of the constitutionally
recognized powers of the executive department of
the government shall not prejudice respect for human
rights which shall be absolute and protected at all
times.
SEC. 3. Terrorism.- Any person who commits an act
punishable under any of the following provisions of
the Revised Penal Code:
a. Article 122 (Piracy in General and Mutiny in the
High Seas or in the Philippine Waters);
b. Article 134 (Rebellion or Insurrection);
c. Article 134-a (Coup d' Etat), including acts
committed by private persons;
d. Article 248 (Murder);
e. Article 267 (Kidnapping and Serious Illegal
Detention);
f. Article 324 (Crimes Involving Destruction), or under
1. Presidential Decree No. 1613 (The Law on Arson);
2. Republic Act No. 6969 (Toxic Substances and
Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990);
3. Republic Act No. 5207, (Atomic Energy Regulatory
and Liability Act of 1968);
4. Republic Act No. 6235 (Anti-Hijacking Law);
5. Presidential Decree No. 532 (Anti-Piracy and Anti-
Highway Robbery Law of 1974); and,
6. Presidential Decree No. 1866, as amended (Decree
Codifying the Laws on Illegal and Unlawful
Possession, Manufacture, Dealing in, Acquisition or
Disposition of Firearms, Ammunitions or Explosives)
thereby sowing and creating a condition of
widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among
the populace, in order to coerce the government to
give in to an unlawful demand shall be guilty of the
crime of terrorism and shall suffer the penalty of forty
(40) years of imprisonment, without the benefit of
parole as provided for under Act No. 4103, otherwise
known as the Indeterminate Sentence Law, as
amended.
SEC. 4. Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism. - Persons
who conspire to commit the crime of terrorism shall
suffer the penalty of forty (40) years of imprisonment.
There is conspiracy when two or more persons come
to an agreement concerning the commission of the
crime of terrorism as defined in Section 3 hereof and
decide to commit the same.
SEC. 5. Accomplice. - Any person who, not being a
principal under Article 17 of the Revised Penal Code or
a conspirator as defined in Section 4 hereof,
cooperates in the execution of either the crime of
terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism by
previous or simultaneous acts shall suffer the penalty
of from seventeen (17) years, four months one day to
twenty (20) years of imprisonment.
SEC. 6. Accessory. - Any person who, having
knowledge of the commission of the crime of
terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism, and
without having participated therein, either as
principal or accomplice under Articles 17 and 18 of the
Revised Penal Code, takes part subsequent to its
commission in any of the following manner: (a) by
profiting himself or assisting the offender to profit by
the effects of the crime; (b) by concealing or
destroying the body of the crime, or the effects, or
instruments thereof, in order to prevent its discovery;
(c) by harboring, concealing, or assisting in the escape
of the principal or conspirator of the crime, shall
suffer the penalty of ten (10) years and one day to
twelve (12) years of imprisonment.
Notwithstanding the above paragraph, the penalties
prescribed for accessories shall not be imposed upon
those who are such with respect to their spouses,
ascendants, descendants, legitimate, natural, and
adopted brothers and sisters, or relatives by affinity
within the same degrees, with the single exception of
accessories falling within the provisions of
subparagraph (a).
SEC. 7. Surveillance of Suspects and Interception and
Recording of Communications. -The provisions of
Republic Act No. 4200 (Anti-Wire Tapping Law) to the
contrary notwithstanding, a police or law
enforcement official and the members of his team
may, upon a written order of the Court of Appeals,
listen to, intercept and record, with the use of any
mode, form, kind or type of electronic or other
surveillance equipment or intercepting and tracking
devices, or with the use of any other suitable ways
and means for that purpose, any communication,
message, conversation, discussion, or spoken or
written words between members of a judicially
declared and outlawed terrorist organization,
association, or group of persons or of any person
charged with or suspected of the crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Provided, That surveillance, interception and
recording of communications between lawyers and
clients, doctors and patients, journalists and their
sources and confidential business correspondence
shall not be authorized.
SEC. 8. Formal Application for Judicial Authorization. -
The written order of the authorizing division of the
Court of Appeals to track down, tap, listen to,
intercept, and record communications, messages,
conversations, discussions, or spoken or written
words of any person suspected of the crime of
terrorism or the crime of conspiracy to commit
terrorism shall only be granted by the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals upon an ex parte
written application of a police or of a law
enforcement official who has been duly authorized in
writing by the Anti-Terrorism Council created in
Section 53 of this Act to file such ex parte application,
and upon examination under oath or affirmation of
the applicant and the witnesses he may produce to
establish: (a) that there is probable cause to believe
based on personal knowledge of facts or
circumstances that the said crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism has been committed,
or is being committed, or is about to be committed;
(b) that there is probable cause to believe based on
personal knowledge of facts or circumstances that
evidence, which is essential to the conviction of any
charged or suspected person for, or to the solution or
prevention of, any such crimes, will be obtained; and,
(c) that there is no other effective means readily
available for acquiring such evidence.
SEC. 9. Classification and Contents of the Order of the
Court. - The written order granted by the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals as well as its order, if
any, to extend or renew the same, the original
application of the applicant, including his application
to extend or renew, if any, and the written
authorizations of the Anti-Terrorism Council shall be
deemed and are hereby declared as classified
information: Provided, That the person being
surveilled or whose communications, letters, papers,
messages, conversations, discussions, spoken or
written words and effects have been monitored,
listened to, bugged or recorded by law enforcement
authorities has the right to be informed of the acts
done by the law enforcement authorities in the
premises or to challenge, if he or she intends to do so,
the legality of the interference before the Court of
Appeals which issued the written order. The written
order of the authorizing division of the Court of
Appeals shall specify the following: (a) the identity,
such as name and address, if known, of the charged
or suspected person whose communications,
messages, conversations, discussions, or spoken or
written words are to be tracked down, tapped,
listened to, intercepted, and recorded and, in the case
of radio, electronic, or telephonic (whether wireless
or otherwise) communications, messages,
conversations, discussions, or spoken or written
words, the electronic transmission systems or the
telephone numbers to be tracked down, tapped,
listened to, intercepted, and recorded and their
locations or if the person suspected of the crime of
terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism is not
fully known, such person shall be subject to
continuous surveillance provided there is a
reasonable ground to do so; (b) the identity (name,
address, and the police or law enforcement
organization) of the police or of the law enforcement
official, including the individual identity (names,
addresses, and the police or law enforcement
organization) of the members of his team, judicially
authorized to track down, tap, listen to, intercept,
and record the communications, messages,
conversations, discussions, or spoken or written
words; (c) the offense or offenses committed, or
being committed, or sought to be prevented; and, (d)
the length of time within which the authorization
shall be used or carried out.
SEC. 10. Effective Period of Judicial Authorization. -
Any authorization granted by the authorizing division
of the Court of Appeals, pursuant to Section 9(d) of
this Act, shall only be effective for the length of time
specified in the written order of the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals, which shall not
exceed a period of thirty (30) days from the date of
receipt of the written order of the authorizing division
of the Court of Appeals by the applicant police or law
enforcement official.
The authorizing division of the Court of Appeals may
extend or renew the said authorization for another
non-extendible period, which shall not exceed thirty
(30) days from the expiration of the original period:
Provided, That the authorizing division of the Court of
Appeals is satisfied that such extension or renewal is
in the public interest: and Provided, further, That the
ex parte application for extension or renewal, which
must be filed by the original applicant, has been duly
authorized in writing by the Anti-Terrorism Council.
In case of death of the original applicant or in case he
is physically disabled to file the application for
extension or renewal, the one next in rank to the
original applicant among the members of the team
named in the original written order of the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals shall file the
application for extension or renewal: Provided, That,
without prejudice to the liability of the police or law
enforcement personnel under Section 20 hereof, the
applicant police or law enforcement official shall have
thirty (30) days after the termination of the period
granted by the Court of Appeals as provided in the
preceding paragraphs within which to file the
appropriate case before the Public Prosecutor's Office
for any violation of this Act.
If no case is filed within the thirty (30)-day period, the
applicant police or law enforcement official shall
immediately notify the person subject of the
surveillance, interception and recording of the
termination of the said surveillance, interception and
recording. The penalty of ten (10) years and one day
to twelve (12) years of imprisonment shall be
imposed upon the applicant police or law
enforcement official who fails to notify the person
subject of the surveillance, monitoring, interception
and recording as specified above.
SEC. 11. Custody of Intercepted and Recorded
Communications. - All tapes, discs, and recordings
made pursuant to the authorization of the
authorizing division of the Court of Appeals, including
all excerpts and summaries thereof as well as all
written notes or memoranda made in connection
therewith, shall, within forty-eight (48) hours after
the expiration of the period fixed in the written order
of the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals or
within forty-eight (48) hours after the expiration of
any extension or renewal granted by the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals, be deposited with
the authorizing Division of the Court of Appeals in a
sealed envelope or sealed package, as the case may
be, and shall be accompanied by a joint affidavit of
the applicant police or law enforcement official and
the members of his team.
In case of death of the applicant or in case he is
physically disabled to execute the required affidavit,
the one next in rank to the applicant among the
members of the team named in the written order of
the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals shall
execute with the members of the team that required
affidavit.
It shall be unlawful for any person, police officer or
any custodian of the tapes, discs and recording, and
their excerpts and summaries, written notes or
memoranda to copy in whatever form, to remove,
delete, expunge, incinerate, shred or destroy in any
manner the items enumerated above in whole or in
part under any pretext whatsoever.
Any person who removes, deletes, expunges,
incinerates, shreds or destroys the items enumerated
above shall suffer a penalty of not less than six years
and one day to twelve (12) years of imprisonment.
SEC. 12. Contents of Joint Affidavit. - The joint
affidavit of the police or of the law enforcement
official and the individual members of his team shall
state: (a) the number of tapes, discs, and recordings
that have been made, as well as the number of
excerpts and summaries thereof and the number of
written notes and memoranda, if any, made in
connection therewith; (b) the dates and times
covered by each of such tapes, discs, and recordings;
(c) the number of tapes, discs, and recordings, as well
as the number of excerpts and summaries thereof
and the number of written notes and memoranda
made in connection therewith that have been
included in the deposit; and (d) the date of the
original written authorization granted by the Anti-
Terrorism Council to the applicant to file the ex parte
application to conduct the tracking down, tapping,
intercepting, and recording, as well as the date of any
extension or renewal of the original written authority
granted by the authorizing division of the Court of
Appeals.
The joint affidavit shall also certify under oath that no
duplicates or copies of the whole or any part of any of
such tapes, discs, and recordings, and that no
duplicates or copies of the whole or any part of any of
such excerpts, summaries, written notes, and
memoranda, have been made, or, if made, that all
such duplicates and copies are included in the sealed
envelope or sealed package, as the case may be,
deposited with the authorizing division of the Court
of Appeals.
It shall be unlawful for any person, police or law
enforcement official to omit or exclude from the joint
affidavit any item or portion thereof mentioned in
this Section.
Any person, police or law enforcement officer who
violates any of the acts prescribed in the preceding
paragraph shall suffer the penalty of not less than ten
(10) years and one day to twelve (12) years of
imprisonment.
SEC. 13. Disposition of Deposited Material. -The
sealed envelope or sealed package and the contents
thereof, which are deposited with the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals, shall be deemed and
are hereby declared classified information, and the
sealed envelope or sealed package shall not be
opened and its contents (including the tapes, discs,
and recordings and all the excerpts and summaries
thereof and the notes and memoranda made in
connection therewith) shall not be divulged, revealed,
read, replayed, or used as evidence unless authorized
by written order of the authorizing division of the
Court of Appeals, which written order shall be
granted only upon a written application of the
Department of Justice filed before the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals and only upon a
showing that the Department of Justice has been duly
authorized in writing by the Anti-Terrorism Council to
file the application with proper written notice the
person whose conversation, communication,
message discussion or spoken or written words have
been the subject of surveillance, monitoring,
recording and interception to open, reveal, divulge,
and use the contents of the sealed envelope or sealed
package as evidence.
Any person, law enforcement official or judicial
authority who violates his duty to notify in writing the
persons subject of the surveillance as defined above
shall suffer the penalty of six years and one day to
eight years of imprisonment.
SEC. 14. Application to Open Deposited Sealed
Envelope or Sealed Package. - The written application
with notice to the party concerned to open the
deposited sealed envelope or sealed package shall
clearly state the purpose or reason: (a) for opening
the sealed envelope or sealed package; (b) for
revealing or disclosing its classified contents; (c) for
replaying, divulging, and or reading any of the
listened to, intercepted, and recorded
communications, messages, conversations,
discussions, or spoken or written words (including any
of the excerpts and summaries thereof and any of the
notes or memoranda made in connection therewith);
[ and, (d) for using any of said listened to, intercepted,
and recorded communications, messages,
conversations, discussions, or spoken or written
words (including any of the excerpts and summaries
thereof and any of the notes or memoranda made in
connection therewith) as evidence.
Any person, law enforcement official or judicial
authority who violates his duty to notify as defined
above shall suffer the penalty of six years and one day
to eight years of imprisonment.
SEC. 15. Evidentiary Value of Deposited Materials. -
Any listened to, intercepted, and recorded
communications, messages, conversations,
discussions, or spoken or written words, or any part or
parts thereof, or any information or fact contained
therein, including their existence, content, substance,
purport, effect, or meaning, which have been secured
in violation of the pertinent provisions of this Act,
shall absolutely not be admissible and usable as
evidence against anybody in any judicial, quasi-
judicial, legislative, or administrative investigation,
inquiry, proceeding, or hearing.
SEC. 16. Penalty for Unauthorized or Malicious
Interceptions and/or Recordings. - Any police or law
enforcement personnel who, not being authorized to
do so by the authorizing division of the Court of
Appeals, tracks down, taps, listens to, intercepts, and
records in whatever manner or form any
communication, message, conversation, discussion,
or spoken or written word of a person charged with or
suspected of the crime of terrorism or the crime of
conspiracy to commit terrorism shall be guilty of an
offense and shall suffer the penalty of ten (10) years
and one day to twelve (12) years of imprisonment.
In addition to the liability attaching to the offender
for the commission of any other offense, the penalty
of ten (10) years and one day to twelve (12) years of
imprisonment and the accessory penalty of perpetual
absolute disqualification from public office shall be
imposed upon any police or law enforcement
personnel who maliciously obtained an authority
from the Court of Appeals to track down, tap, listen
to, intercept, and record in whatever manner or form
any communication, message, conversation,
discussion, or spoken or written words of a person
charged with or suspected of the crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism: Provided, That
notwithstanding Section 13 of this Act, the party
aggrieved by such authorization shall be allowed
access to the sealed envelope or sealed package and
the contents thereof as evidence for the prosecution
of any police or law enforcement personnel who
maliciously procured said authorization.
SEC. 17. Proscription of Terrorist Organizations,
Association, or Group of Persons. - Any organization,
association, or group of persons organized for the
purpose of engaging in terrorism, or which, although
not organized for that purpose, actually uses the acts
to terrorize mentioned in this Act or to sow and
create a condition of widespread and extraordinary
fear and panic among the populace in order to coerce
the government to give in to an unlawful demand
shall, upon application of the Department of Justice
before a competent Regional Trial Court, with due
notice and opportunity to be heard given to the
organization, association, or group of persons
concerned, be declared as a terrorist and outlawed
organization, association, or group of persons by the
said Regional Trial Court.
SEC. 18. Period of Detention Without Judicial Warrant
of Arrest. - The provisions of Article 125 of the Revised
Penal Code to the contrary notwithstanding, any
police or law enforcement personnel, who, having
been duly authorized in writing by the Anti-Terrorism
Council has taken custody of a person charged with or
suspected of the crime of terrorism or the crime of
conspiracy to commit terrorism shall, without
incurring any criminal liability for delay in the delivery
of detained persons to the proper judicial authorities,
deliver said charged or suspected person to the
proper judicial authority within a period of three days
counted from the moment the said charged or
suspected person has been apprehended or arrested,
detained, and taken into custody by the said police,
or law enforcement personnel: Provided, That the
arrest of those suspected of the crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism must result from the
surveillance under Section 7 and examination of bank
deposits under Section 27 of this Act.
The police or law enforcement personnel concerned
shall, before detaining the person suspected of the
crime of terrorism, present him or her before any
judge at the latter's residence or office nearest the
place where the arrest took place at any time of the
day or night. It shall be the duty of the judge, among
other things, to ascertain the identity of the police or
law enforcement personnel and the person or persons
they have arrested and presented before him or her,
to inquire of them the reasons why they have
arrested the person and determine by questioning
and personal observation whether or not the suspect
has been subjected to any physical, moral or
psychological torture by whom and why. The judge
shall then submit a written report of what he/she had
observed when the subject was brought before him
to the proper court that has jurisdiction over the case
of the person thus arrested. The judge shall forthwith
submit his/her report within three calendar days from
the time the suspect was brought to his/her residence
or office.
Immediately after taking custody of a person charged
with or suspected of the crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism, the police or law
enforcement personnel shall notify in writing the
judge of the court nearest the place of apprehension
or arrest: Provided ,That where the arrest is made
during Saturdays, Sundays, holidays or after office
hours, the written notice shall be served at the
residence of the judge nearest the place where the
accused was arrested.
The penalty of ten (10) years and one day to twelve
(12) years of imprisonment shall be imposed upon the
police or law enforcement personnel who fails to
notify and judge as Provided in the preceding
paragraph.
SEC. 19. Period of Detention in the Event of an Actual
or Imminent Terrorist Attack. - In the event of an
actual or imminent terrorist attack, suspects may not
be detained for more than three days without the
written approval of a municipal, city, provincial or
regional official of a Human Rights Commission or
judge of the municipal, regional trial court, the
Sandiganbayan or a justice of the Court of Appeals
nearest the place of the arrest. If the arrest is made
during Saturdays, Sundays, holidays or after office
hours, the arresting police or law enforcement
personnel shall bring the person thus arrested to the
residence of any of the officials mentioned above that
is nearest the place where the accused was arrested.
The approval in writing of any of the said officials
shall be secured by the police or law enforcement
personnel concerned within five days after the date of
the detention of the persons concerned: Provided,
however, That within three days after the detention
the suspects, whose connection with the terror attack
or threat is not established, shall be released
immediately.
SEC. 20. Penalty for Failure to Deliver Suspect to the
Proper Judicial Authority within Three Days. - The
penalty of ten (10) years and one day to twelve (12)
years of imprisonment shall be imposed upon any
police or law enforcement personnel who has
apprehended or arrested, detained and taken custody
of a person charged with or suspected of the crime of
terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism and fails
to deliver such charged or suspected person to the
proper judicial authority within the period of three
days.
SEC. 21. Rights of a Person under Custodial
Detention. - The moment a person charged with or
suspected of the crime of terrorism or the crime of
conspiracy to commit terrorism is apprehended or
arrested and detained, he shall forthwith be
informed, by the arresting police or law enforcement
officers or by the police or law enforcement officers
to whose custody the person concerned is brought, of
his or her right: (a) to be informed of the nature and
cause of his arrest, to remain silent and to have
competent and independent counsel preferably of his
choice. If the person cannot afford the services of
counsel of his or her choice, the police or law
enforcement officers concerned shall immediately
contact the free legal assistance unit of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) or the Public
Attorney's Office (PAO). It shall be the duty of the
free legal assistance unit of the IBP or the PAO thus
contacted to immediately visit the person(s) detained
and provide him or her with legal assistance. These
rights cannot be waived except in writing and in the
presence of the counsel of choice; (b) informed of the
cause or causes of his detention in the presence of his
legal counsel; (c) allowed to communicate freely with
his legal counsel and to confer with them at any time
without restriction; (d) allowed to communicate
freely and privately without restrictions with the
members of his family or with his nearest relatives
and to be visited by them; and, (e) allowed freely to
avail of the service of a physician or physicians of
choice.

SEC. 22. Penalty for Violation of the Rights of a
Detainee. - Any police or law enforcement personnel,
or any personnel of the police or other law
enforcement custodial unit that violates any of the
aforesaid rights of a person charged with or
suspected of the crime of terrorism or the crime of
conspiracy to commit terrorism shall be guilty of an
offense and shall suffer the penalty of ten (10) years
and one day to twelve (12) years of imprisonment.
Unless the police or law enforcement personnel who
violated the rights of a detainee or detainees as
stated above is duly identified, the same penalty shall
be imposed on the police officer or hear or leader of
the law enforcement unit having custody of the
detainee at the time the violation was done.
SEC. 23. Requirement for an Official Custodial Logbook
and its Contents. - The police or other law
enforcement custodial unit in whose care and control
the person charged with or suspected of the crime of
terrorism or the crime of conspiracy to commit
terrorism has been placed under custodial arrest and
detention shall keep a securely and orderly
maintained official logbook, which is hereby declared
as a public document and opened to and made
available for .the inspection and scrutiny of the
lawyer or lawyers of the person under custody or any
member of his or her family or relative by
consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree
or his or her physician at any time of the day or night
without any form of restriction. The logbook shall
contain a clear and concise record of: (a) the name,
description, and address of the detained person; (b)
the date and exact time of his initial admission for
custodial arrest and detention; (c) the name and
address of the physician or physicians who examined
him physically and medically; (d) the state of his
health and physical condition at the time of his initial
admission for custodial detention; (e) the date and
time of each removal of the detained person from his
cell for interrogation or for any purpose; (f) the date
and time of his return to his cell; (g) the name and
address of the physician or physicians who physically
and medically examined him after each interrogation;
(h) a summary of the physical and medical findings on
the detained person after each of such interrogation;
(i) the names and addresses of his family members
and nearest relatives, if any and if available; (j) the
names and addresses of persons, who visit the
detained person; (k) the date and time of each of such
visits; (1) the date and time of each request of the
detained person to communicate and confer with his
legal counsel or counsels; (m) the date and time of
each visit, and date and time of each departure of his
legal counsel or counsels; and, (n) all other important
events bearing on and all relevant details regarding
the treatment of the detained person while under
custodial arrest and detention.
The said police or law enforcement custodial unit
shall upon demand of the aforementioned lawyer or
lawyers or members of the family or relatives within
the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of
the person under custody or his or her physician issue
a certified true copy of the entries of the logbook
relative to the concerned detained person without
delay or restriction or requiring any fees whatsoever
including documentary stamp tax, notarial fees, and
the like. This certified true copy may be attested by
the person who has custody of the logbook or who
allowed the party concerned to scrutinize it at the
time the demand for the certified true copy is made.
The police or other law enforcement custodial unit
who fails to comply with the preceding paragraph to
keep an official logbook shall suffer the penalty of ten
(10) years and one day to twelve (12) years of
imprisonment.
SEC. 24. No Torture or Coercion in Investigation and
Interrogation. - No threat, intimidation, or coercion,
and no act which will inflict any form of physical pain
or torment, or mental, moral, or psychological
pressure, on the detained person, which shall vitiate
his freewill, shall be employed in his investigation and
interrogation for the crime of terrorism or the crime
of conspiracy to commit terrorism; otherwise, the
evidence obtained from said detained person
resulting from such threat, intimidation, or coercion,
or from such inflicted physical pain or torment, or
mental, moral, or psychological pressure, shall be, in
its entirety, absolutely not admissible and usable as
evidence in any judicial, quasi-judicial, legislative, or
administrative investigation, inquiry, proceeding, or
hearing.
SEC. 25. Penalty for Threat, Intimidation, Coercion, or
Torture in the Investigation and Interrogation of a
Detained Person. - Any person or persons who use
threat, intimidation, or coercion, or who inflict
physical pain or torment, or mental, moral, or
psychological pressure, which shall vitiate the free-
will of a charged or suspected person under
investigation and interrogation for the crime of
terrorism or the crime of conspiracy to commit
terrorism shall be guilty of an offense and shall suffer
the penalty of twelve (12) years and one day to
twenty (20) years of imprisonment.
When death or serious permanent disability of said
detained person occurs as a consequence of the use
of such threat, intimidation, or coercion, or as a
consequence of the infliction on him of such physical
pain or torment, or as a consequence of the infliction
on him of such mental, moral, or psychological
pressure, the penalty shall be twelve (12) years and
one day to twenty (20) years of imprisonment.
SEC. 26. Restriction on Travel. - In cases where
evidence of guilt is not strong, and the person
charged with the crime of terrorism or conspiracy to
commit terrorism is entitled to bail and is granted the
same, the court, upon application by the prosecutor,
shall limit the right of travel of the accused to within
the municipality or city where he resides or where the
case is pending, in the interest of national security
and public safety, consistent with Article III, Section 6
of the Constitution. Travel outside of said
municipality or city, without the authorization of the
court, shall be deemed a violation of the terms and
conditions of his bail, which shall then be forfeited as
provided under the Rules of Court.
He/she may also be placed under house arrest by
order of the court at his or her usual place of
residence.
While under house arrest, he or she may not use
telephones, cellphones, e-mails, computers, the
internet or other means of communications with
people outside the residence until otherwise ordered
by the court.
The restrictions abovementioned shall be terminated
upon the acquittal of the accused or of the dismissal
of the case filed against him or earlier upon the
discretion of the court on motion of the prosecutor or
of the accused.
SEC. 27. Judicial Authorization Required to Examine
Bank Deposits, Accounts, and Records. - The
provisions of Republic Act No. 1405 as amended, to
the contrary notwithstanding, the justices of the
Court of Appeals designated as a special court to
handle anti-terrorism cases after satisfying
themselves of the existence of probable cause in a
hearing called for that purpose that: (1) a person
charged with or suspected of the crime of terrorism
or, conspiracy to commit terrorism, (2) of a judicially
declared and outlawed terrorist organization,
association, or group of persons; and (3) of a member
of such judicially declared and outlawed organization,
association, or group of persons, may authorize in
writing any police or law enforcement officer and the
members of his/her team duly authorized in writing
by the anti-terrorism council to: (a) examine, or cause
the examination of, the deposits, placements, trust
accounts, assets and records in a bank or financial
institution; and (b) gather or cause the gathering of
any relevant information about such deposits,
placements, trust accounts, assets, and records from
a bank or financial institution. The bank or financial
institution concerned, shall not refuse to allow such
examination or to provide the desired information,
when so, ordered by and served with the written
order of the Court of Appeals.
SEC. 28. Application to Examine Bank Deposits,
Accounts, and Records. - The written order of the
Court of Appeals authorizing the examination of bank
deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets, and
records: (1) of a person charged with or suspected of
the crime of terrorism or conspiracy to commit
terrorism; (2) of any judicially declared and outlawed
terrorist organization, association, or group of
persons, or (3) of any member of such organization,
association, or group of persons in a bank or financial
institution, and the gathering of any relevant
information about the same from said bank or
financial institution, shall only be granted by the
authorizing division of the Court of Appeals upon an
ex parte application to that effect of a police or of a
law enforcement official who has been duly
authorized in writing to file such ex parte application
by the Anti-Terrorism Council created in Section 53 of
this Act to file such ex parte application, and upon
examination under oath or affirmation of the
applicant and, the witnesses he may produce to
establish the facts that will justify the need and
urgency of examining and freezing the bank deposits,
placements, trust accounts, assets, and records: (1) of
the person charged with or suspected of the crime of
terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism; (2) of a
judicially declared and outlawed terrorist
organization, association or group of persons; or (3)
of any member of such organization, association, or
group of persons.
SEC. 29. Classification and Contents of the Court Order
Authorizing the Examination of Bank Deposits,
Accounts, and Records. - The written order granted by
the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals as
well as its order, if any, to extend or renew the same,
the original ex parte application of the applicant,
including his ex parte application to extend or renew,
if any, and the written authorizations of the Anti-
Terrorism Council, shall be deemed and are hereby
declared as classified information: Provided, That the
person whose bank deposits, placements, trust
accounts, assets, and records have been examined,
frozen, sequestered and seized by law enforcement
authorities has the right to be informed of the acts
done by the law enforcement authorities in the
premises or to challenge, if he or she intends to do so,
the legality of the interference. The written order of
the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals
designated to handle cases involving terrorism shall
specify: (a) the identify of the said: (1) person charged
with or suspected of the crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism; (2) judicially declared
and outlawed terrorist organization, association, or
group of persons; and (3) member of such judicially
declared and outlawed organization, association, or
group of persons, as the case may be. whose
deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets, and
records are to be examined or the information to be
gathered; (b) the identity of the bank or financial
Institution where such deposits, placements, trust
accounts, assets, and records are held and
maintained; (c) the identity of the persons who will
conduct the said examination and the gathering of
the desired information; and, (d) the length of time
the authorization shall be carried out.
SEC. 30. Effective Period of Court Authorization to
Examine and Obtain Information on Bank Deposits,
Accounts, and Records. - The authorization issued or
granted by the authorizing division of the Court of
Appeals to examine or cause the examination of and
to freeze bank deposits, placements, trust accounts,
assets, and records, or to gather information about
the same, shall be effective for the length of time
specified in the written order of the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals, which shall not
exceed a period of thirty (30) days from the date of
receipt of the written order of the authorizing division
of the Court of Appeals by the applicant police or law
enforcement official.
The authorizing division of the Court of Appeals may
extend or renew the said authorization for another
period, which shall not exceed thirty (30) days
renewable to another thirty (30) days from the
expiration of the original period: Provided, That the
authorizing division of the Court of Appeals is
satisfied that such extension or renewal is in the
public interest: and, Provided, further, That the
application for extension or renewal, which must be
filed by the original applicant, has been duly
authorized in writing by the Anti-Terrorism Council.
In case of death of the original applicant or in case he
is physically disabled to file the application for
extension or renewal, the one next in rank to the
original applicant among the members of the ream
named in the original written order of the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals shall file the
application for extension or renewal: Provided, That,
without prejudice to the liability of the police or law
enforcement personnel under Section 19 hereof, the
applicant police or law enforcement official shall have
thirty (30) days after the termination of the period
granted by the Court of Appeals as provided in the
preceding paragraphs within which to file the
appropriate case before the Public Prosecutor's Office
for any violation of this Act.
If no case is filed within the thirty (30)-day period, the
applicant police or law enforcement official shall
immediately notify in writing the person subject of
the bank examination and freezing of bank deposits,
placements, trust accounts, assets and records. The
penalty of ten (10) years and one day to twelve (12)
years of imprisonment shall be imposed upon the
applicant police or law enforcement official who fails
to notify in writing the person subject of the bank
examination and freezing of bank deposits,
placements, trust accounts, assets and records.
Any person, law enforcement official or judicial
authority who violates his duty to notify in writing as
defined above shall suffer the penalty of six years and
one day to eight years of imprisonment.
SEC. 31. Custody of Bank Data and Information
Obtained after Examination of Deposits, Placements,
Trust Accounts, Assets and Records. - All information,
data, excerpts, summaries, notes, memoranda,
working sheets, reports, and other documents
obtained from the examination of the bank deposits,
placements, trust accounts, assets and records of: (1)
a person charged with or suspected of the crime of
terrorism or the crime of conspiracy to commit
terrorism; (2) a judicially declared and outlawed
terrorist organization, association, or group of
persons; or (3) a member of any such organization,
association, or group of persons shall, within forty-
eight (48) hours after the expiration of the period
fixed in the written order of the authorizing division
of the Court of Appeals or within forty-eight (48)
hours after the expiration of the extension or renewal
granted by the authorizing division of the Court of
Appeals, be deposited with the authorizing division of
the Court of Appeals in a sealed envelope or sealed
package, as the case may be, and shall be
accompanied by a joint affidavit of the applicant
police or law enforcement official and the persons
who actually conducted the examination of said bank
deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and
records.
SEC. 32. Contents of Joint Affidavit. - The joint
affidavit shall state: (a) the identifying marks,
numbers, or symbols of the deposits, placements,
trust accounts, assets, and records examined; (b) the
identity and address of the bank or financial
institution where such deposits, placements, trust
accounts, assets, and records are held and
maintained; (c) the number of bank deposits,
placements, trust accounts, assets, and records
discovered, examined, and frozen; (d) the
outstanding balances of each of such deposits,
placements, trust accounts, assets; (e) all
information, data, excerpts, summaries, notes,
memoranda, working sheets, reports, documents,
records examined and placed in the sealed envelope
or sealed package deposited with the authorizing
division of the Court of Appeals; (f) the date of the
original written authorization granted by the Anti-
Terrorism Council to the applicant to file the ex parte
Application to conduct the examination of the said
bank deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and
records, as well as the date of any extension or
renewal of the original written authorization granted
by the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals;
and (g) that the items Enumerated were all that were
found in the bank or financial institution examined at
the time of the completion of the examination.
The joint affidavit shall also certify under oath that no
duplicates or copies of the information, data,
excerpts, summaries, notes, memoranda, working
sheets, reports, and documents acquired from the
examination of the bank deposits, placements, trust
accounts, assets and records have been made, or, if
made, that all such duplicates and copies are placed
in the sealed envelope or sealed package deposited
with the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals.
It shall be unlawful for any person, police officer or
custodian of the bank data and information obtained
after examination of deposits, placements, trust
accounts, assets and records to copy, to remove,
delete, expunge, incinerate, shred or destroy in any
manner the items enumerated above in whole or in
part under any pretext whatsoever,
Any person who copies, removes, deletes, expunges,
incinerates, shreds or destroys the items enumerated
above shall suffer a penalty of not less than six years
and one day to twelve (12) years of imprisonment.
SEC. 33. Disposition of Bank Materials. - The sealed
envelope or sealed package and the contents thereof,
which are deposited with the authorizing division of
the Court of Appeals, shall be deemed and are hereby
declared classified information and the sealed
envelope or sealed package shall not be opened and
its contents shall not be divulged, revealed, read, or
used as evidence unless authorized in a written order
of the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals,
which written order shall be granted only upon a
written application of the Department of Justice filed
before the authorizing division of the Court of
Appeals and only upon a showing that the
Department of Justice has been duly authorized in
writing by the Anti-Terrorism Council to file the
application, with notice in writing to the party
concerned not later than three days before the
scheduled opening, to open, reveal, divulge, and use
the contents of the sealed envelope or sealed
package as evidence.
Any person, law enforcement official or judicial
authority who violates his duty to notify in writing as
defined above shall suffer the penalty of six years and
one day to eight years of imprisonment.
SEC. 34. Application to Open Deposited Bank
Materials. - The written application, with notice in
writing to the party concerned not later than three
days of the scheduled opening, to open the sealed
envelope or sealed package shall clearly state the
purpose and reason: (a) for opening the sealed
envelope or sealed package; (b) for revealing and
disclosing its classified contents; and, (c) for using the
classified information, data, excerpts, summaries,
notes, memoranda, working sheets, reports, and
documents as evidence.
SEC. 35. Evidentiary Value of Deposited Bank
Materials. - Any information, data, excerpts,
summaries, notes, memoranda, work sheets, reports,
or documents acquired from the examination of the
bank deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and
records of: (1) a person charged or suspected of the
crime of terrorism or the crime of conspiracy to
commit terrorism; (2) a judicially declared and
outlawed terrorist organization, association, or group
of persons; or (3) a member of such organization,
association, or group of persons, which have been
secured in violation of the provisions of this Act, shall
absolutely not be admissible and usable as evidence
against anybody in any judicial, quasi-judicial,
legislative, or administrative investigation, inquiry,
proceeding, or hearing.
SEC. 36. Penalty for Unauthorized or Malicious
Examination of a Bank or a Financial Institution. - Any
person, police or law enforcement personnel who
examines the deposits, placements, trust accounts,
assets, or records in a bank or financial institution of:
(1) a person charged with or suspected of the crime of
terrorism or the crime of conspiracy to commit
terrorism; (2) a judicially declared and outlawed
terrorist organization, association, or group of
persons; or (3) a member of such organization,
association, or group of persons, without being
authorized to do so by the Court of Appeals, shall be
guilty of an offense and shall suffer the penalty of ten
(10) years and one day to twelve (12) years of
imprisonment.
In addition to the liability attaching to the offender
for the commission of any other offense, the penalty
of ten (10) years and one day to twelve (12) years of
imprisonment shall be imposed upon any police or
law enforcement personnel, who maliciously
obtained an authority from the Court of Appeals to
examine the deposits, placements, trust accounts,
assets, or records in a bank or financial institution of:
(1) a person charged with or suspected of the crime of
terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism; (2) a
judicially declared and outlawed terrorist
organization, association, or group of persons; or (3) a
member of such organization, association, or group
of persons: Provided, That notwithstanding Section
33 of this Act, the party aggrieved by such
authorization shall upon motion duly filed be allowed
access to the sealed envelope or sealed package and
the contents thereof as evidence for the prosecution
of any police or law enforcement personnel who
maliciously procured said authorization.
SEC. 37. Penalty of Bank Officials and Employees
Defying a Court Authorization. - An employee, official,
or a member of the board of directors of a bank or
financial institution, who refuses to allow the
examination of the deposits, placements, trust
accounts, assets, and records of: (1) a person charged
with or suspected of the crime of terrorism or the
crime of conspiracy to commit terrorism; (2) a
judicially declared and outlawed organization,
association, or group of persons; or (3) a member of
such judicially declared and outlawed organization,
association, or group of persons in said bank or
financial institution, when duly served with the
written order of the authorizing division of the Court
of Appeals, shall be guilty of an offense and shall
suffer the penalty of ten (10) years and one day to
twelve (12) years of imprisonment.
SEC. 38. Penalty for False or Untruthful Statement or
Misrepresentation of Material Fact in Joint Affidavits. -
Any false or untruthful statement or
misrepresentation of material fact in the joint
affidavits required respectively in Section 12 and
Section 32 of this Act shall constitute a criminal
offense and the affiants shall suffer individually the
penalty of ten (10) years and one day to twelve (12)
years of imprisonment.
SEC. 39. Seizure and Sequestration. - The deposits
and their outstanding balances, placements, trust
accounts, assets, and records in any bank or financial
institution, moneys, businesses, transportation and
communication equipment, supplies and other
implements, and property of whatever kind and
nature belonging: (1) to any person suspected of or
charged before a competent Regional Trial Court for
the crime of terrorism or the crime of conspiracy to
commit terrorism; (2) to a judicially declared and
outlawed organization, association, or group of
persons; or (3) to a member of such organization,
association, or group of persons shall be seized,
sequestered, and frozen in order to prevent their use,
transfer, or conveyance for purposes that are inimical
to the safety and security of the people or injurious to
the interest of the State.
The accused or a person suspected of may withdraw
such sums as may be reasonably needed by the
monthly needs of his family including the services of
his or her counsel and his or her family's medical
needs upon approval of the court. He or she may also
use any of his property that is under seizure or
sequestration or frozen because of his/her indictment
as a terrorist upon permission of the court for any
legitimate reason.
Any person who unjustifiably refuses to follow the
order of the proper division of the Court of Appeals to
allow the person accused of the crime of terrorism or
of the crime of conspiracy to commit terrorism to
withdraw such sums from sequestered or frozen
deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and
records as may be necessary for the regular
sustenance of his/her family or to use any of his/her
property that has been seized, sequestered or frozen
for legitimate purposes while his/her case is pending
shall suffer the penalty of ten (10) years and one day
to twelve (12) years of imprisonment.
SEC. 40. Nature of Seized. Sequestered and Frozen
Bank Deposits, Placements, Trust Accounts, Assets and
Records. - The seized, sequestered and frozen bank
deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and
records belonging to a person suspected of or
charged with the crime of terrorism or conspiracy to
commit terrorism shall be deemed as property held in
trust by the bank or financial institution for such
person and the government during the pendency of
the investigation of the person suspected of or during
the pendency of the trial of the person charged with
any of the said crimes, as the case may be and their
use or disposition while the case is pending shall be
subject to the approval of the court before which the
case or cases are pending.
SEC. 41. Disposition of the Seized, Sequestered and
Frozen Bank Deposits, Placements, Trust Accounts,
Assets and Record. - If the person suspected of or
charged with the crime of terrorism or conspiracy to
commit terrorism is found, after his investigation, to
be innocent by the investigating body, or is acquitted,
after his arraignment or his case is dismissed before
his arraignment by a competent court, the seizure,
sequestration and freezing of his bank deposits,
placements, trust accounts, assets and records shall
forthwith be deemed lifted by the investigating body
or by the competent court, as the case may be, and
his bank deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets
and records shall be deemed released from such
seizure, sequestration and freezing, and shall be
restored to him without any delay by the bank or
financial institution concerned without any further
action on his part. The filing of any appeal on motion
for reconsideration shall not state the release of said
funds from seizure, sequestration and freezing.
If the person charged with the crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism is convicted by a final
judgment of a competent trial court, his seized,
sequestered and frozen bank deposits, placements,
trust accounts, assets and records shall be
automatically forfeited in favor of the government.
Upon his or her acquittal or the dismissal of the
charges against him or her, the amount of Five
hundred thousand pesos (P500.000.00) a day for the
period in which his properties, assets or funds were
seized shall be paid to him on the concept of
liquidated damages. The amount shall be taken from
the appropriations of the police or law enforcement
agency that caused the filing of the enumerated
charges against him/her.
SEC. 42. Penalty for Unjustified Refusal to Restore or
Delay in Restoring Seized, Sequestered and Frozen
Bank Deposits, Placements, Trust Accounts, Assets and
Records. - Any person who unjustifiably refuses to
restore or delays the restoration of seized,
sequestered and frozen bank deposits, placements,
trust accounts, assets and records of a person
suspected of or charged with the crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism after such suspected
person has been found innocent by the investigating
body or after the case against such charged person
has been dismissed or after he is acquitted by a
competent court shall suffer the penalty of ten (10)
years and one day to twelve (12) years of
imprisonment.
SEC. 43. Penalty for the Loss, Misuse, Diversion or
Dissipation of Seized, Sequestered and Frozen Bank
Deposits, Placements, Trust Accounts, Assets and
Records. - Any person who is responsible for the loss,
misuse, diversion, or dissipation of the whole or any
part of the seized, sequestered and frozen bank
deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and
records of a person suspected of or charged with the
crime of terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism
shall suffer the penalty of ten (10) years and one day
to twelve (12) years of imprisonment.
SEC. 44. Infidelity in the Custody of Detained
Persons. - Any public officer who has direct custody of
a detained person or under the provisions of this Act
and who by his deliberate act, misconduct, or
inexcusable negligence causes or allows the escape of
such detained person shall be guilty of an offense and
shall suffer the penalty of: (a) twelve (12) years and
one day to twenty (20) years of imprisonment, if the
detained person has already been convicted and
sentenced in a final judgment of a competent court;
and (b) six years and one day to twelve (12) years of
imprisonment, if the detained person has not been
convicted and sentenced in a final judgment of a
competent court.
SEC. 45. Immunity and Protection of Government
Witnesses. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 6981
(Witness Protection, Security and Benefits Act) to the
contrary notwithstanding, the immunity of
government witnesses testifying under this Act shall
be governed by Sections 17 and 18 of Rule 119 of the
Rules of Court: Provided, however, That said
witnesses shall be entitled to benefits granted to
witnesses under said Republic Act No.6981.
SEC. 46. Penalty for Unauthorized Revelation of
Classified Materials. - The penalty of ten (10) years
and one day to twelve (12) years of imprisonment
shall be imposed upon any person, police or law
enforcement agent, judicial officer or civil servant
who, not being authorized by the Court of Appeals to
do so, reveals in any manner or form any classified
information under this Act.
SEC. 47. Penalty for Furnishing False Evidence, Forged
Document, or Spurious Evidence. - The penalty of
twelve (12) years and one day to twenty (20) years of
imprisonment shall be imposed upon any person who
knowingly furnishes false testimony, forged
document or spurious evidence in any investigation or
hearing under this Act.
SEC. 48. Continuous Trial. - In cases of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism, the judge shall set
the continuous trial on a daily basis from Monday to
Friday or other short-term trial calendar so as to
ensure speedy trial.
SEC. 49. Prosecution Under This Act Shall be a Bar to
Another Prosecution under the Revised Penal Code or
any Special Penal Laws. - When a person has been
prosecuted under a provision of this Act, upon a valid
complaint or information or other formal charge
sufficient in form and substance to sustain a
conviction and after the accused had pleaded to the
charge, the acquittal of the accused or the dismissal
of the case shall be a bar to another prosecution for
any offense or felony which is necessarily included in
the offense charged under this Act.
SEC. 50. Damages for Unproven Charge of Terrorism. -
Upon acquittal, any person who is accused of
terrorism shall be entitled to the payment of
damages in the amount of Five hundred thousand
pesos (P500,000.00) for every day that he or she has
been detained or deprived of liberty or arrested
without a warrant as a result of such an accusation.
The amount of damages shall be automatically
charged against the appropriations of the police
agency or the Anti-Terrorism Council that brought or
sanctioned the filing of the charges against the
accused. It shall also be released within fifteen (15)
days from the date of the acquittal of the accused.
The award of damages mentioned above shall be
without prejudice to the right of the acquitted
accused to file criminal or administrative charges
against those responsible for charging him with the
case of terrorism.
Any officer, employee, personnel, or person who
delays the release or refuses to release the amounts
awarded to the individual acquitted of the crime of
terrorism as directed in the paragraph immediately
preceding shall suffer the penalty of six months of
imprisonment.
If the deductions are less than the amounts due to the
detained persons, the amount needed to complete
the compensation shall be taken from the current
appropriations for intelligence, emergency, social or
other funds of the Office of the President.
In the event that the amount cannot be covered by
the current budget of the police or law enforcement
agency concerned, the amount shall be automatically
included in the appropriations of the said agency for
the coming year.
SEC. 51. Duty to Record and Report the Name and
Address of the Informant. - The police or law
enforcement officers to whom the name or a suspect
in the crime of terrorism was first revealed shall
record the real name and the specific address of the
informant.
The police or law enforcement officials concerned
shall report the informant's name and address to their
superior officer who shall transmit the information to
the Congressional Oversight Committee or to the
proper court within five days after the suspect was
placed under arrest or his properties were
sequestered, seized or frozen.
The name and address of the informant shall be
considered confidential and shall not be unnecessarily
revealed until after the proceedings against the
suspect shall have been terminated.
SEC. 52. Applicability of the Revised Penal Code. - The
provisions of Book I of the Revised Penal Code shall
be applicable to this Act.
SEC. 53. Anti-Terrorism Council. - An Anti-Terrorism
Council, hereinafter referred to, for brevity, as the
"Council," is hereby created. The members of the
Council are: (1) the Executive Secretary, who shall be
its Chairperson; (2) the Secretary of Justice, who shall
be its Vice Chairperson; and (3) the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs; (4) the Secretary of National Defense;
(5) the Secretary of the Interior and Local
Government; (6) the Secretary of Finance; and (7) the
National Security Advisor, as its other members.
The Council shall implement this Act and assume the
responsibility for the proper and effective
implementation of the anti-terrorism policy of the
country. The Council shall keep records of its
proceedings and decisions. All records of the Council
shall be subject to such security classifications as the
Council may, in its judgment and discretion, decide to
adopt to safeguard the safety of the people, the
security of the Republic, and the welfare of the
nation.
The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency shall
be the Secretariat of the Council. The Council shall
define the powers, duties, and functions of the
National Intelligence Coordinating Agency as
Secretariat of the Council. The National Bureau of
Investigation, the Bureau of Immigration, the Office
of Civil Defense, the Intelligence Service of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines, the Anti-Money Laundering
Council, the Philippine Center on Transnational
Crime, and the Philippine National Police intelligence
and investigative elements shall serve as support
agencies for the Council.
The Council shall formulate and adopt
comprehensive, adequate, efficient, and effective
anti-terrorism plans, programs, and counter-
measures to suppress and eradicate terrorism in the
country and to protect the people from acts of
terrorism. Nothing herein shall be interpreted to
empower the Anti-Terrorism Council to exercise any
judicial or quasi-judicial power or authority.
SEC. 54. Functions of the Council. - In pursuit of its
mandate in the previous Section, the Council shall
have the following functions with due regard for the
rights of the people as mandated by the Constitution
and pertinent laws:
1. Formulate and adopt plans, programs and counter-
measures against terrorists and acts of terrorism in
the country;
2. Coordinate all national efforts to suppress and
eradicate acts of terrorism in the country and
mobilize the entire nation against terrorism
prescribed in this Act;
3. Direct the speedy investigation and prosecution of
all persons accused or detained for the crime of
terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism and
other offenses punishable under this Act, and monitor
the progress of their cases;
4. Establish and maintain comprehensive data-base
information system on terrorism, terrorist activities,
and counter-terrorism operations;
5. Freeze the funds property, bank deposits,
placements, trust accounts, assets and records
belonging to a person suspected of or charged with
the crime of terrorism or conspiracy to commit
terrorism, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9160,
otherwise known as the Anti-Money Laundering Act
of 2001, as amended;
6. Grant monetary rewards and other incentives to
informers who give vital information leading to the
apprehension, arrest, detention, prosecution, and
conviction of person or persons who are liable for the
crime of terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism;
7. Establish and maintain coordination with and the
cooperation and assistance of other nations in the
struggle against international terrorism; and
8. Request the Supreme Court to designate specific
divisions of the Court of Appeals and Regional Trial
Courts in Manila, Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City,
as the case may be, to handle all cases involving the
crime of terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism
and all matters incident to said crimes. The Secretary
of Justice shall assign a team of prosecutors from: (a)
Luzon to handle terrorism cases filed in the Regional
Trial Court in Manila; (b) from the Visayas to handle
cases filed in Cebu City; and (c) from Mindanao to
handle cases filed in Cagayan de Oro City.
SEC. 55. Role of the Commission on Human Rights. -
The Commission on Human Rights shall give the
highest priority to the investigation and prosecution
of violations of civil and political rights of persons in
relation to the implementation of this Act; and for
this purpose, the Commission shall have the
concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute public officials,
law enforcers, and other persons who may have
violated the civil and political rights of persons
suspected of, or detained for the crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism.
SEC. 56. Creation of a Grievance Committee. - There is
hereby created a Grievance Committee composed of
the Ombudsman, as chair, and the Solicitor General,
and an undersecretary from the Department of
Justice (DOJ), as members, to receive and evaluate
complaints against the actuations of the police and
law enforcement officials in the implementation of
this Act. The Committee shall hold office in Manila.
The Committee shall have three subcommittees that
will be respectively headed by the Deputy
Ombudsmen in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
The subcommittees shall respectively hold office at
the Offices of Deputy Ombudsman. Three Assistant
Solicitors General designated by the Solicitor
General, and the regional prosecutors of the DOJ
assigned to the regions where the Deputy
Ombudsmen hold office shall be members thereof.
The three subcommittees shall assist the Grievance
Committee in receiving, investigating and evaluating
complaints against the police and other law
enforcement officers in the implementation of this
Act. If the evidence warrants it, they may file the
appropriate cases against the erring police and law
enforcement officers. Unless seasonably disowned or
denounced by the complainants, decisions or
judgments in the said cases shall preclude the filing of
other cases based on the same cause or causes of
action as those that were filed with the Grievance
Committee or its branches.
SEC. 57. Ban on Extraordinary Rendition. - No person
suspected or convicted of the crime of terrorism shall
be subjected to extraordinary rendition to any
country unless his or her testimony is needed for
terrorist related police investigations or judicial trials
in the said country and unless his or her human rights,
including the right against torture, and right to
counsel, are officially assured by the requesting
country and transmitted accordingly and approved by
the Department of Justice.
SEC. 58. Extra-Territorial Application of this Act. -
Subject to the provision of an existing treaty of which
the Philippines is a signatory and to any contrary
provision of any law of preferential application, the
provisions of this Act shall apply: (1) to individual
persons who commit any of the crimes defined and
punished in this Act within the terrestrial domain,
interior waters, maritime zone, and airspace of the
Philippines; (2) to individual persons who, although
physically outside the territorial limits of the
Philippines, commit, conspire or plot to commit any
of the crimes defined and punished in this Act inside
the territorial limits of the Philippines; (3) to individual
persons who, although physically outside the
territorial limits of the Philippines, commit any of the
said crimes on board Philippine ship or Philippine
airship; (4) to individual persons who commit any of
said crimes within any embassy, consulate, or
diplomatic premises belonging to or occupied by the
Philippine government in an official capacity; (5) to
individual persons who, although physically outside
the territorial limits of the Philippines, commit said
crimes against Philippine citizens or persons of
Philippines descent, where their citizenship or
ethnicity was a factor in the commission of the crime;
and (6) to individual persons who, although physically
outside the territorial limits of the Philippines,
commit said crimes directly against the Philippine
government.
SEC. 59. Joint Oversight Committee. - There is hereby
created a Joint Oversight Committee to oversee the
implementation of this Act. The Oversight
Committee shall be composed of five members each
from the Senate and the House in addition to the
Chairs of the Committees of Public Order of both
Houses who shall also Chair the Oversight Committee
in the order specified herein. The membership of the
Committee for every House shall at least have two
opposition or minority members. The Joint Oversight
Committee shall have its own independent counsel.
The Chair of the Committee shall rotate every six
months with the Senate chairing it for the first six
months and the House for the next six months. In
every case, the ranking opposition or minority
member of the Committee shall be the Vice Chair.
Upon the expiration of one year after this Act is
approved by the President, the Committee shall
review the Act particularly the provision that
authorize the surveillance of suspects of or persons
charged with the crime of terrorism. To that end, the
Committee shall summon the police and law
enforcement officers and the members of the Anti-
Terrorism Council and require them to answer
questions from the members of Congress and to
submit a written report of the acts they have done in
the implementation of the law including the manner
in which the persons suspected of or charged with the
crime of terrorism have been dealt with in their
custody and from the date when the movements of
the latter were subjected to surveillance and his or
her correspondences, messages, conversations and
the like were listened to or subjected to monitoring,
recording and tapping. Without prejudice to its
submitting other reports, the Committee shall render
a semiannual report to both Houses of Congress. The
report may include where necessary a have been signed into law by the President, the Act
recommendation to reassess the effects of
globalization on terrorist activities on the people,
provide a sunset clause to or amend any portion of
the Act or to repeal the Act in its entirety. The courts
dealing with anti-terrorism cases shall submit to
Congress and the President a report every six months
of the status of anti-terrorism cases that have been
filed with them starting from the date this Act is
implemented.
SEC. 60. Separability Clause. - If for any reason any
part or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall
remain and continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 61. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees,
executive orders, rules or regulations or parts thereof,
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 62. Special Effectivity Clause. - After the bill shall
shall be published in three newspapers of national
circulation; three newspapers of local circulation, one
each in llocos Norte, Baguio City and Pampanga;
three newspapers of local circulation, one each in
Cebu, lloilo and Tacloban; and three newspapers of
local circulation, one each in Cagayan de Oro, Davao
and General Santos city.
The title of the Act and its provisions defining the acts
of terrorism that are punished shall be aired everyday
at primetime for seven days, morning, noon and night
over three national television and radio networks;
three radio and television networks, one each in
Cebu, Tacloban and lloilo; and in five radio and
television networks, one each in Lanao del Sur,
Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, Cotabato City and
Zamboanga City. The publication in the newspapers
of local circulation and the announcements over local
radio and television networks shall be done in the
dominant language of the community. After the
publication required above shall have been done, the
Act shall take effect two months after the elections
are held in May 2007. Thereafter, the provisions of
this Act shall be automatically suspended one month
before and two months as after the holding of any
election.