Manila, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ), in partnership with key Philippine criminal justice agencies, signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to implement new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling terrorism and terrorism financing cases. This initiative brings to life DOJ Department Circular No. 20 (DC 20), issued in March 2023, which underscores the proactive role of prosecutors in building cases for these serious offenses.
Developed throughout 2023 by a technical working group, the SOPs are a product of collaboration among the DOJ, 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). This process was supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Philippines Program Office and funded by the Australian Government. To ensure seamless adoption, the SOPs will be institutionalized through targeted training and workshops, enabling agencies to integrate them into daily operations while aligning with national and international standards for handling terrorism and terrorism financing cases.
The SOPs provide clear, actionable guidelines for case build-up, evidence handling, and inter-agency coordination. They aim to strengthen the handling of complex cases while safeguarding human rights, including due process protections. Key guardrails include strict adherence to rights against unlawful detention, personal data protection in line with international privacy standards, and mechanisms to prevent coercion or the use of evidence obtained through torture.
For cases involving vulnerable groups or witnesses, the SOPs introduce additional protections, such as access to psychological support and confidentiality measures. DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stressed the significance of this initiative: “These SOPs provide much-needed clarity and structure to the processes of investigation and prosecution in terrorism and terrorism financing cases. They reaffirm our commitment to delivering justice with precision, fostering collaboration across agencies, and upholding the fundamental principles of human rights.”
The SOPs not only address the Philippines' efforts to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 'grey list' but also aim to build a sustainable framework for combating terrorism and terrorism financing. This framework emphasizes coordination, accountability, and respect for human rights. Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines, HK Yu, highlighted the importance of this partnership: “Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines, HK Yu, emphasized Australia’s role in supporting this initiative, stating, “Australia is proud to have supported the development of these SOPs, which demonstrate how inter-agency collaboration can help to address 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 also played a pivotal role in this initiative, providing technical expertise to align the SOPs with international best practices. UNODC Philippines Country Manager Daniele Marchesi added: “These SOPs equip Philippine agencies with a comprehensive, rights-based framework tailored to meet the complex challenges of counterterrorism. By promoting operational coordination and embedding human rights safeguards, this initiative reinforces the Philippines' commitment to a justice system that is both resilient and principled.”
Designed not only to address immediate needs in terrorism-related cases, the SOPs serve as a blueprint for broader institutional reforms within the Philippine criminal justice system. By embedding these practices into agency operations through policy issuances, the DOJ and its partners aim to ensure the SOPs’ sustainability and lasting impact. This initiative underscores the Philippine government’s commitment to strengthening its criminal justice mechanisms, addressing national security concerns, and ensuring that human rights remain central to its counter-terrorism strategies.
