RP to review anti-terror agreements with other countries

The Philippines will review and move to upgrade its counter-terrorism agreements and arrangements with other countries in line with the newly enacted anti-terror law to be implemented in July.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, chairman of Malacañang’s Anti-Terrorism Task Force (ATTF), said various government agencies are jointly drafting the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) that should be finalized two weeks before the Republic Act 9372, or the Human Security Act of 2007, takes effect.

"We will review our agreements and working arrangements with Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States and with other countries that we have arrangements with and we will see what areas we can make enhancements because of the new law," Ermita said.

The Philippines currently has joint border patrol agreements with Indonesia and Malaysia.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales earlier disclosed the government is working on a counter-terrorism arrangement with Saudi Arabia which would include intelligence information sharing.

Last March, President Arroyo signed into law the anti-terror bill that essentially criminalizes terrorism and allows authorities to detain terror suspects for longer periods and eavesdrop on communications of suspected militants, as well as imposes stiffer penalties on acts of terrorism.

Once the law is in effect, Ermita said the ATTF will be dissolved and replaced by an anti-terrorism council that he will preside with the Secretaries of Defense, Interior and Local Government, and Foreign Affairs, Justice, and the National Security Adviser, as members.

Ermita said members of the new task force had some preliminary meetings to finalize the IRR with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) acting as the secretariat.

"When the IRR is completed and approved, each government agency would know their respective roles as far as the fight against terrorism is concerned," he said.

Security officials said RA 9372, titled "An Act to Secure the State and Protect Our People from Terrorism," will allow the Philippines to play a greater role in the regional fight against al-Qaeda-linked militants, including the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) since neighboring countries have similar laws.