THE Davao City Council last Tuesday deferred the discussion of the anti-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) Ordinance, which seeks to punish persons, who recruits another person to membership in the Isis and its allied terrorist group.
Davao City Councilor and chair of committee on rules, privileges, laws and ordinances Bernard Al-ag, in an interview with VoxPop Davao, said they decided to defer the item due to the lack of time and also to clarify substantial points raised by other councilors.
"We need to study the issues raised by Councilor Victorio Advincula, whether or not being a member or recruiter of Isis is illegal or not, bakit kailangang i-criminalize that it is guaranteed by our constitution to have freedom to form and join organization,” he said.
Al-ag added it was also pointed out that the crime done by terrorist groups may not involve all of its members.
"So yun ang primary questions, and we will have to discuss it more in the next session," he said.
According to the initial report of the committee on rules, privileges, laws and ordinances, although there had been no documented presence of Isis in the city, there is still a possibility that they are here.
The proposed resolution punishes the act of recruiting and membership to Isis including those professing to support the group, distribution of propaganda materials, and failure to report Isis related activities.
Section 2 of the draft of the ordinance states the ordinance cover those who recruits another person to membership in the Isis and or to its allied local terrorist group, whether that person is recognized by Isis leadership or not.
It will also cover members of the Isis or its allied local terrorist groups, those who adhere to and profess express support to the Isis and or its allied local terrorist groups, such as but not limited to giving them any kind of aid or comfort, attendance to meetings and the like.
During the committee hearing, committee chair Bernard Al-ag and Councilor Nilo Abellera approved the suggestion to include "possession" of propaganda and paraphernalia.
The draft of the ordinance states that no person shall be convicted under the ordinance unless on testimony of two witnesses at least to the same act or by the voluntary confession of the accused in court.
A fine of P5,000 and imprisonment maximum punishment will also be enforced upon the enactment of the ordinance. (KVC)