In the aftermath of Hamas' multifront attack against Israel last Oct. 7, the national government is pushing to declare the Palestinian Islamist organization as a terrorist group as security officials uncovered its "activities" in the Philippines a few years back.
National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said there was an attempt by Hamas to establish its presence in the Philippines and operate here with local terror groups.
"May mga pagtangka na ang Hamas na maglunsad ng mga aktibidades sa Pilipinas. In fact in 2018, mayroong isang Hamas operative na bomb maker dito sa Pilipinas na inaresto ng Philippine National Police at ito ay dineport natin sa Turkey (There were attempts on the side of Hamas to launch activities in the Philippines. In fact in 2018, a Hamas operative bomb maker was arrested by the Philippine National Police and deported to Turkey)," Malaya said in a press briefing on Monday, Oct. 16.
In January 2018, the PNP said it had arrested then 64-year-old Iraqi national Taha Mohammed Ahmed al-Jabouri in Pampanga, who was tagged as a chemist with knowledge on explosives and closely affiliated with Hamas.
"Last year, mayroon din silang operatiba na kumakausap sa mga local extremist groups para makapagoperate din sa ating bansa (Last year, they also have operatives talking to local extremist groups so they could operate in our country)," Malaya added.
The PNP also announced in February 2022 that it had uncovered a terror plot by Hamas to establish a base in the Philippines through the help of local terror groups and recruit Filipino fighters to "kill Jews" residing in the country.
Aside from these, Malaya said that Hamas also wants to spread their propaganda in the Philippines through social media, and organize rallies in embassies "to create disunity or chaos."
Fortunately, Malaya said Hamas' attempts were prevented by the security forces.
Malaya said that the October 7 attack launched by Hamas against Israel, which killed thousands including three Filipinos, prompted National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año to push for the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization in the Philippines under Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Once the designation is completed, security forces can easily arrest suspected Hamas members in the Philippines and freeze their accounts and assets so they could not finance their activities, according to Malaya.
"This is a clear message by the Philippine government na hindi natin hahayaang mag-operate ang Hamas dito (that we will not allow Hamas to operate here). That's really the purpose of the planned designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization," he noted.
"Sinisuguro natin 'yung safety ng ating mga kababayan, at we are expressing our solidarity with the State of Israel kasi mahaba at maganda po ang relasyon natin sa bansang Israel (We are also ensuring the safety of our countrymen, and we are expressing our solidarity with the State of Israel because we have a long history of good relations with Israel)," he added.
Opposition
However, non-profit organization International League of People's Struggle (IPLS)-Philippines opposed the planned designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization, saying it "would not resolve" the conflict between Palestine and Israel, as well as the whole Arab region.
"If ever, it will just win points from the US [United States] to which the Philippines has long been subservient and from Israel which has large military supplies contracts with the Philippines," said ILPS General Secretary Liza Maza.
"The Palestinian people have long suffered under Israel’s illegal occupation of their lands. The people’s right to pursue the struggle for self determination by all means including by force is a long held principle already enshrined in international documents including that of the UN [United Nations]," she added.
For Malaya, the designation only seeks to prevent Hamas' potential operation in the country, and is not meant to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict.
"We do not intend to resolve the Palestinian question," he said.
"Kaya po natin ginagawa itong (We are doing this) planned declaration of Hamas as a terrorist organization in the Philippines for our own national interest)."