Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3027

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G. 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. Iff 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 Goyernment 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
wellare are essential for the enjoyment of the blessings of democracy by all people, the
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

(EENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
3027

House Bill No. _

Introduced by Rodolfo G. Biazon

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

Be it enacted by the Senate und the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congr:
assembled:

SECTION 1. Tide. Thi
‘Terrorism Act.”

‘Act shall be known as the “Rewards for Information Concerning

SEC. 2, Declaration of Principles. — Article Il 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 und 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

4.) 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

2) Terrorists — individuals who commi
terrorism, including those identifi
as terrorists,

conspire 10 commit or intend to commit acts of
«d by foreign law enforcement entities and governments

3.) Terrorist Organization —
commis:

\y local or intemational organization involved in the
n, conspiracy or intention (o commit acts of terror

1



Rewards for Information
stered by the Secretay of
mation leading to:

ere is hereby established a
formation. ~ There is here

SEC. 5. Rewards for Informatic 9 to be adn
Conce sng Teworist rome under the Depart furnishes info
Concerning tr vuthorized 10 grant rewards to indivicls

Justice, whieh is aut 8 mmission of an act of

corn
ee Philippines

erson oF persons
aye jal jurisdiction of the

arrest or conviction of
a) the arrest oF <0 et, within the territor

terrorism as defined in this

b) the arrest or conviction of any person ir persons for conspiring oF attempting to
son ot for cor
¥) the arrest or conviction 0

commit

yet of terrorism fined wil rritorial jurisdiction of the
terrorism as defined in this Act, within the territorial jurisdiction

an act of terroris

Philippines

pee ser oil in
ion, frustration, or favorable resolution of an act of terrorism as defined

©) the prevent rabl ips
° Toe he territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines

this Act, within t

fo the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines of any person
t organization

4) the prevention of entry i j I
‘or persons known or suspected to be terrorists or members of any terrorist

SEC. 6. Determination of Emtittement and Maximum Amount. ~ The Secretary of Justice shall
determine whether an individual furnishing information described in Section 5 of this Act is entitled
toa reward and the amount to be paid. Under this Act, the reward may be in an amount not to exceed
Five Million Pesos (P $,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 — Af its determined that the identity of the
ccipient of a reward or of the members of the recipient’s immediate family must be protected, the
Secretaty 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 500,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than one

year. If the person providing false or misleading information is a government official or employee,

apart from the aforementioned penalty, he shall be immedi
; rh immediat o
disqualified from holding any government position, ii ai

SEC. 10. Implementing

Rules and Regulation
such rules and regulations as a nd Regulations. The Department of Justice shall promulgate

ire necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. ict :
Bano Kes soiree the furs hecessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be
ie ly artunent of Justice as provided in the current General Appropriations

Thereafier, the necessary sum

for the implen
Subsequent General Appropriinns aug) Mt? implementation of this Act shall be provided in


rules and regulations contrary to the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Bffectivity ~ 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 circul
earlier.

Approved,