Philippine anti-terrorism law will sow discord

Significance

The legislation significantly increases the executive’s power to determine what constitutes terrorism. The government of the fledgling Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, in the Philippine south, had requested Duterte not to endorse it, believing it will be used primarily against people there.

Impacts

• Authorities will use the law to curb communists, whom Duterte regards as terrorists, as well as suspected Islamist militants.
• The law may help keep the Philippines off a Financial Action Task Force watchlist of states with weak measures against terrorist financing.
• Legal challenges to the law will not lead to significant changes to it.