EDITORIAL - A terrorist? Not quite

In a move that surprised many except the camp of Negros Oriental Rep. ArnolfoTeves the Anti-Terrorism Council has designated Teves, who is blamed for the assassination of Governor RoelDegamo last March, as a terrorist.

Along with Teves, 12 others were also designated as terrorists by the ATC as part of the “Teves Terrorist Group” and were blamed for “several killings or harassments” in Negros Oriental, aside from the murder of Degamo.

With the terrorist designation, the Anti-Money Laundering Council can now investigate and freeze the financial assets and properties of Teves.

Yes it will help in isolating Teves and may even force him to finally return to the Philippines. But is it really correct to call Teves a terrorist?

We have always been of the opinion that the definition of the word “terrorist,” as accepted worldwide, is one who commits chaos and even murder in espousing or promoting a certain ideological or political belief.

It was only in the Philippine anti-terror act that the meaning of the word “terrorist” and the definition of “terroristic acts” were made very vague and even overreaching, drawing condemnation from sectors concerned that it could be used to pursue just about anyone.

Let’s say for the sake of argument that Teves is really behind the killing of Degamo; that killing a political rival, dastardly as it is, didn’t qualify as the promotion of an ideology.

Even if this “Teves Terrorist Group” --to use the term coined by the ATC-- is really responsible for “several killings or harassments” in Negros Oriental; does it really follow that they were pushing for a certain political belief?

What is to stop the ATC from declaring anyone with ordinary homicide or murder cases as terrorists? More importantly; are all private armed groups being funded and controlled by political families, and there are quite a number of them, to be designated terrorists as well? Doesn’t that make some political leaders terrorists too?

Yes, everything must be done to make sure Teves returns to the country to face the accusations against him, and designating him as a terrorist is actually a brilliant move, but the use of the law as it is may have unintended consequences.