The Anti-Terrorism Council’s (ATC) move to designate suspended Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. and 12 other persons as part of the “Teves Terrorist Group” and tagging them as terrorists is a huge concern. And as far as Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is concerned, he finds it disturbing for the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) to designate Teves as a terrorist and come up with a resolution stating that the lawmaker and 12 other persons allegedly involved in the assassination of then Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo as part of the “Teves Terrorist Group.” “Significant itong declaration na ito ng Anti-Terrorism Council. Dahil sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, binuksan nila ang definition. Pinalawak nila yung definition ng teroristang grupo (This declaration made by the ATC is significant. Because for the very first time, they opened the definition. They expanded the definition of a terrorist group),” Escudero said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday, August 3. Ordinarily, Escudero said the terrorist tag applies to infamous groups such as the Jemaah Islamiyah, Maute group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). But the ATC’s recent decision seems to expand the definition of terrorist groups to any group that coddles a private armed group (PAG). “In other words, ang direksyon bang pinupunta ng ATC ay sino mang may PAGs (private armed group) ay pwedeng ma-declare na terrorist organization? At kung saka-sakali dagdag ba ito sa mga kasong isasampa nila halimbawa sa 10 or 11 na kabahagi sa deklarasyon nila (Is the ATC going into the direction of naming private armed groups as a terrorist organization? And if ever, would this be part of the charges they will file against the 10 or 11 that were part of their declaration)?” the senator asked. “DOJ lamang siguro makakasagot niyan. Ito ba ay precedent na, na pwede nang saklawin ng terrorist act ang PAGs (Only the DOJ I think can answer that. Is this a precedent that the Anti-Terrorism Act will cover the PAGs),” he said. Escudero, however, said that while he is not opposing or questioning the ATC’s move to bring up a new kind of definition for terrorists, he admits “it is a concern that it is being expanded.” “But that gives us enough reason to be vigilant about it, to be aware about it, and as I said just, to be aware na lumalawak yung definition (that the definition is expanding),” he said. “I mean it’s being expanded, to mean that and it is broader than our usual concept of a terrorist group,” the lawmaker pointed out. Escudero said he would ask the ATC to shed light on their decision when the Senate starts hearing their proposed national budget for 2024. “Magandang malaman kung saan nga ba ang pinaghuhugutan ng ATC kaugnay sa bagay na ito. At kung kinikilaa nga nila na lumalawak ang definition ng terorista at terorismo sa ating batas (It would be good to know where exactly the ATC is getting its information from in relation to this matter. And if they believe that the definition of terrorist and terrorism is expanding in our law),” Escudero said. “I also want to ask is the TTG (Teves Terrorist Group), is that an actual name or did they just call it as such? Is there really such a group or is it just names as such)?” he pointed out. If the government is using the anti-terror law as a strategy to compel Teves to return to the Philippines and face the accusations against him, Escudero said this should not be the case. “Hindi yata tama na gamitin yung Anti-Terror Law na istratehiya para mapalabas lamang ang isang (tao) na ni hindi pa nga akusado (I think it’s not right to use the Anti-Terror Law as a strategy to make the person surface when he is not even yet an accused in a case),” he pointed out. “So that means we are trifling with the label terrorist. I would prefer na may basis talaga sila hindi yung stratehiya lamang para magipit or maipit at mapwersya siya lumabas or umuwi (that they have sufficient basis and not just a strategy to compel or pressure him to surface or to return to the country),” Escudero stressed.