During its briefing to the Counter-Terrorism Committee, delivered on 28 May 2021, Under-Secretary Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan, Executive Director of the Anti-Terrorism Council Program Management Center in the Office of the President of the Philippines (former Chief of the Philippine National Police), outlined a range of steps taken by the Philippines to implement the Committee’s visit recommendations pursuant to the requirements of the relevant Security Council resolutions, as well as several priority areas of technical assistance needs. Government representatives also expressed their appreciation at the close working relationship established between the Philippines and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).
Acting on the Committee’s behalf, CTED conducted a comprehensive visit to the Philippines in 2006. A first follow-up visit was conducted in 2014, and a second in October 2019.
The Committee’s most recent visit report included a number of recommendations for strengthening the Philippines’ the counter-terrorism capacities.
In March 2020, Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of CTED, visited Manila together with Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) to engage in Joint-High-Level Consultation with the Government aimed at further enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation between the UN and the Philippines.
During its country visits, the Committee routinely recalls the need for States to ensure that counter-terrorism measures are implemented in full respect for human rights and that the roles of women and gender perspectives are taken into account in developing counter-terrorism strategies and policies in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
During the Committee’s briefing of 28 May 2021, the CTED Executive Director commended the efforts of the Philippines.
“The Philippines has played an important role in the area of counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism in the region, in particular within ASEAN, with a view to enhancing international cooperation, information-sharing and collective endeavours”, she said.
H.E. Mr. Tarek Ladeb, the Committee Chair, and other Committee members also welcomed the virtual briefing, which enabled the Committee to continue its constructive dialogue with the Philippines on its efforts to implement the relevant Council resolutions.
“Follow-up to the Committee’s assessment visits is one of the priorities of our dialogue with Member States. It ensures transparency, proactive engagement, and recognition of Member States’ efforts in implementing the agreed upon outcomes of the assessment visit report, in light of the Security Council resolutions, in particular paragraph 10 of resolution 2395,” he said.