Gov’t reports to UN gains in war on terror

MANILA, Philippines - The government has reported before the United Nations its accomplishments in combating terrorism, including the recent capture of an alleged commander of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

At the Fourth Biennial Review of the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy (UNGCTS) at the UN General Assembly in New York on June 12, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Rafael Seguis said the capture of Khair Mundos was among the country’s achievements.

Mundos, who is wanted in the US and has acknowledged receiving funds from al-Qaeda, has a P1.2-million bounty on his head.

“The Philippines has been facing constant threats of terrorism during the past decade… (but) our resolve remains clearer than ever…rather than submit to fear and paralysis, all the more we have become undaunted and determined,” Seguis said.

He also reported on the country’s various accomplishments in combating terrorism since the Third Review in 2012, along with rescue efforts by the concerned agencies of persons kidnapped or held hostage by terrorists.

He also called attention to ongoing efforts to further strengthen the country’s fight against terrorism, with the push for approval of the bill on strategic trade management involving dual use of goods, Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention.

Seguis said the Philippines has had successes in fulfilling the objectives of the Four Pillars of the UNGCTS, with the recent signing of the Philippines-Indonesia Memorandum of Understanding on Combating International Terrorism and partnership with the International Center for Counter Terrorism, which developed a National Operation Framework on Counter Radicalization and De-Radicalization.

He also noted that the Philippines is the regional headquarters of the Chemical-Biological-Radiological-Nuclear Center of Excellence in Southeast Asia, a joint undertaking with the European Union and the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute.

“In fact, sports has also been a tool, like the annual Football for Peace, which brings children from selected conflict areas to Manila, not only for sports clinics, but also to transform their outlooks in life from a ‘culture of violence’ to that of ‘a culture of peace’,” Seguis said.

He also cited the Manual for Collaborative Intelligence, Investigation and Prosecution of UN Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

In mentioning the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism, he noted that while the country builds an effective criminal justice system to fight terrorism, it also respects, protects and uphold the rule of law, particularly civil liberties and human rights.