Remulla lays down DoJ anti-terrorism tack

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday formally laid down the Department of Justice standard operating procedures (SOP) for terrorism and terrorism financing cases.

This was announced by Remulla during the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Institutionalization of the DoJ SOPs.

Present at the signing were Australian Ambassador HK Yu and Daniele Marchesi, country manager of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Remulla said this year they were reminded of the grave and persistent threats posed by terrorism and terrorism financing — threats that incite violence, destabilize communities and endanger both national and global security.

He said global incidents, such as the vehicle-ramming attack in New Orleans and the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas, demonstrated the borderless nature of terrorism.

The incidents highlighted the urgent need for collective action, shared intelligence, and international cooperation to effectively combat these threats, he said.

“Today, we formalize the Department of Justice’s standard operating procedures for terrorism and terrorism financing cases. This initiative reinforces our commitment to addressing these threats through precise and coordinated actions. Introduced via Department Circular No. 20, these SOPs enhance the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, ensuring a seamless approach to case buildup and prosecution,” Remulla said.

The justice chief said that with the implementation of DC 20, terrorism financing prosecutions have increased significantly, from just two cases prior to its issuance to 237 cases involving 484 subjects as of December 2024.

This progress underscores the value of strategic guidance and collaboration in combating terrorism and its financial networks, he said.

The SOPs provide a clear guidance to ensure swift and coordinated actions against terrorism enablers, leading to more successful prosecutions and increased public confidence in the justice system.

But Remulla maintained that no nation can combat terrorism alone as the transnational nature of terrorism financing necessitates building stronger alliances, deepening partnerships and supporting one another in this shared mission.

“Our collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the government of Australia exemplifies how global solidarity can amplify our capacity to dismantle these networks,” he said.