The government has adopted new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to improve the handling of terrorism and terrorism financing cases, aiming to strengthen coordination and uphold due process.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Philippine National Police (PNP), Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the implementation of the SOPs.
Developed in 2023 with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and funding from the Australian government, the procedures outline guidelines for case build-up, evidence handling, and inter-agency coordination.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla highlighted the importance of the SOPs in clarifying and providing structure to the investigation and prosecution processes for terrorism and terrorism financing cases.
“[The SOPs] reaffirm our commitment to delivering justice with precision, fostering collaboration across agencies, and upholding the fundamental principles of human rights,” he stressed.
The SOPs set rules for evidence handling, protect against unlawful detention and coercion, and introduce safeguards for witnesses and vulnerable groups.
Moreover, the SOPs are also designed to help the Philippines comply with international counterterrorism standards and address issues raised by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which placed the country on its “grey list” due to concerns over terrorism financing controls.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu emphasized the framework’s importance, saying Australia is proud to have supported the SOPs’ development, which highlights the role of inter-agency collaboration in addressing terrorism and terrorism financing.
“This framework will improve the quality of cases, generate better justice outcomes and enable a justice-led approach that upholds the rule of law and human rights,”
UNODC Philippines Country Manager Daniele Marchesi added that the procedures align with global best practices and promote a coordinated, rights-based approach to counterterrorism.
The DOJ and partner agencies plan to institutionalize the SOPs through training programs to ensure they are integrated into daily operations.
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