The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday told the press that the country has yet to devise a law that sufficiently combats Nihilistic Violence Extremism (NVE).
In a press briefing, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said the department will readily support the passage of bills against NVE.
In the meantime, the DOJ will be making its decisions concerning NVE crimes based on existing Philippine laws.
“Sa tingin namin dito sa DOJ, sa kasalukuyan, wala pa talagang sapat na legal framework upang talakayin ang NVE. Subalit, habang wala ito, hindi naman ibig sabihin na wala tayong magagawa. May magagawa tayo, at gagamitin natin ‘yung mga nandiyan na na batas para parusahan ‘yung mga tao sa likod nitong mga NVE na ‘to,” Ty said.
Ty said that among the cases being considered against the 15-year-old suspect in a fatal shooting incident at a Tacloban high school are the violations of Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, Republic Act No. 11930, also known as the Republic Act No. 11930, known as the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, as well as murder and attempted murder charges.
He added that when NVE-motivated incidents occur in other countries, governments utilize their terrorism frameworks against the suspects. However, the Justice official explained that, with the controversy surrounding the label “terrorist,” the possibility of terrorism charges remains under examination.
“Kailangan pag-aralan ng mabuti ito at mag-ingat dahil alam naman natin kung gaano ka-kontrobersyal ang definition of terrorism. At isa pang dahilan ay dapat mag-ingat tayo kung tatatakan natin ng terorista ang isang bata,” Ty said.
The shooter, identified only as alias “Rod,” is facing three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder, according to DOJ Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato.
Rod is currently in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth in Region VIII.
