HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City pare! 9 JUL 2016

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS| ee

First Regular Session

REGISTRATION UNIT
House Bill No._ 1703 BILLS ANU INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

The tragic terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on September
11, 2001 shocked the world and woke every individual to the real threat posed by terrorists
the world over. Investigations after the attack revealed that the terrorist network spans several
countries and crosses over continents, recognizing no boundaries and defying laws of nations.

Terrorism has become a threat not only to the lives of individuals, but also to peace
and order, liberty, property, and general welfare essential for the enjoyment of the blessings
of democracy by all people. Terrorism then became the concern of every nation, each country
coming up with its own actions to address the terrorist threat. Anti-terrorism laws were either
passed or updated by the governments of the civilized world.

Even the Philippines passed its own Human Security Act in 2007 in order to provide
the government with a mechanism by which to counteract the terrorist scourge. However, a
mechanism that would facilitate the provision of vital information on terrorists by the people
must also be put into place.

This bill seeks to provide a reward system for persons who provide information
leading to the arrest or prosecution of terrorist or the prevention of terrorist acts. If passed
into law, this bill can help facilitate the enforcement of anti-terrorism laws in the country.
‘The rewards system proposed by this bill is not much different from that offered by the
United States government for information leading to the arrest, capture or prosecution of the
five prominent Abu Sayyaf personalities, an offer which was welcomed by the Philippine
Government,

In the pursuit of the principles of the Philippine Constitution which states that the
prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people and that the maintenance of
peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general
welfare are essential for the enjoyment of the blessings of democracy by all people, the
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ROZZANO RYFINO B. BIAZON
Representative

Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._1'703

Introduced by HON, ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A REWARDS FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING TERRORISM
PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Rewards for Information
Concerning Terrorism Act.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Principles. ~ Article II Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution
states that the prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. Section 5 of
the same Article of the Constitution states that the maintenance of peace and order, the
protection of life, liberty and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for
the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.

Sec. 3. Policy and Objectives. — In the pursuit of the above stated principles, it is
hereby declared the policy of the State to protect the people from terrorist acts and provide
the means and systems to prevent and prosecute the commission of such acts.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. — For the purpose of this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as follows:

1) Terrorism — In this Act, “terrorism” means the use or threat of action where
a.) the use or threat is designed to influence the government or to intimidate

the public or a section of the public, and is made for the purpose of
advancing a political, religious or ideological cause;

b,) action involves serious violence against a person, serious damage to
property, endangers a person’s life, other than that of the person
committing the action, creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the
public or a section of the public, or is designed seriously to interfere with
or seriously disrupt an electronic system.

1


2) Terrorists — individuals who commit, conspire to commit, or intend to commit,
acts of terrorism, including those identified by foreign law enforcement entities
and governments as terrorists.

3) Terrorist Organization — any local or international organization involved in the
commission, conspiracy or intention to commit acts of terrorism.

See. 5. Rewards for Information. — There is hereby established a Rewards for
Information Concerning Terrorism Program under the Department of Just
administered by the Secretary of Justice, which is authorized to grant rewards to
who furnishes information leading

a) the arrest or conviction of any person or persons for the commission of an act of
terrorism as defined in this Act, within the territorial jurisdiction of the
Philippines;

b) the prevention, frustration or favorable resolution of an act of terrorism as defined
in this Act; and

©) the prevention of entry into the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines of any
person or persons known or suspected to be terrorists or members of any terrorist
organization

Sec. 6, Determination of Entitlement and Maximum Amount, ~ The Secretary of
Justice shall determine whether an individual furnishing information described in Section 5 of
this Act is entitled to a reward and the amount to be paid. Under this Act, the reward may be
in an amount not to exceed Five Million Pesos (P 5,000,000.00). However, a reward of Five
Hundred Thousand or more may not be made without the written approval of the president.

Sec. 7. Withhold Identity: Witness Protection. — If its determined that the identity of
the recipient of a reward or of the members of the recipient’s immediate family must be
protected, the Secretary of Justice may withhold the identity of the recipient from the public
or place the informant under the Witness Protection Program; Provided, that any reward
granted under this Act shall be certified for payment by the Secretary of Justice.

Sec. 8. Exception of Government Officials. — No officer or employee of any
government entity, who while in the performance of his or her official duties, furnishes the
information described in Section 5 shall be eligible for any monetary reward under this Act.

Sec. 9. Penalty Provision. — any person who provides false or misleading information
to avail of or affect the grant of any reward under this Act shall be fined not more than Five
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P $00,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six months but not
more than one year. If the person providing false or misleading information is a goverment
official or employee, apart from the aforementioned penalty, he shall be immediately
removed from office and perpetually disqualified from holding any government position.

See. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Justice shall
promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this
Act.


See. 11. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be charged to the budget of the Department of Justice as provided in the current General
Appropriations Act.

Thereafter, the necessary sum for the implementation of this Act shall be provided in
subsequent General Appropriations Acts.

Sec. 12, Repealing Clause. — Any provisions of law, presidential decree, executive
orders, rules and regulations contrary to the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.

Approved,