Terror Grooming Prevention Act

Senate Offie of the accriary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 SEP -9 P4:17 SENATE RECEIVED BY: - S. No. 1366 Introduced by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa AN ACT PROTECTING VULNERABLE SECTORS AGAINST RADICALIZATION AND TERROR-GROOMING AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The 1987 Constitution mandates the State to maintain peace and order, protect life, liberty, and property, and promote the general welfare. In fulfilling this duty, it stands to reason that the government's duty extends far beyond confronting and battling direct terrorist acts. It also involves the duty to address radicalization in its early stages: terror grooming, as this proposed bill suggests. Vulnerable sectors-children, youth, indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolk, laborers, and the marginalized-are often targeted by terrorist recruiters. The same recruiters who exploit poverty and exclusion and use them to advance their own destabilizing interests. While we acknowledge that the Constitution protects our freedoms of belief, expression, and assembly, these same freedoms are increasingly misused and abused by extremists as cover to advance their violent agenda. Alarmingly, current laws focus primarily on recruitment and participation, leaving a gap in addressing radicalization and grooming. The Terror Grooming Prevention Act seeks to fill this gap. By defining, prohibiting, and penalizing terror grooming while safeguarding constitutional rights, we render our laws capable of nipping the terror problem in the bud while at the same

time ensuring that our children are protected from the harmful influence of those whose only operative logic is sabotage and subversion. It provides responsibilities for schools, organizations, and internet intermediaries. The bill also creates prevention mechanisms at the community and national levels. Rehabilitation and reintegration programs are also provided for victims. The bill likewise provides strong penalties, particularly for cases involving children, public officials, and those abusing moral authority. This measure affirms the State's duty as parens patriae and adopts a whole-of- nation approach-prevention, protection, rehabilitation, and accountability-to shield vulnerable sectors from exploitation and to strengthen peace and security. In the spirit of affirming a stable and secure future for our children and their children, I urge my colleagues to act for the swift passage of this bill. RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA

senate Olice of the fee rtap 25 SEP -9 P4:17 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED SY: SENATE 1366 S. No. _ INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA AN ACT PROTECTING VULNERABLE SECTORS AGAINST RADICALIZATION AND TERROR-GROOMING AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Terror Grooming

Prevention Act of 2025."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy, - The State recognizes that ideological indoctrination

4 and psychological grooming are deliberate processes that condition individuals to support, abet, or commit terrorist acts, and that such practices pose a grave danger to national security, public safety, and social harmony. To this end, it shall be the policy of the State: 1. To renounce war and adhere to the policy of peace, justice and freedom, in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, and in consonance to other international treaties and conventions to which the State adheres to; 2. To protect the peoples lives and properties by ensuring that accurate and timely information is provided to counteract extremist propaganda and disinformation. Moreover, the State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation building and peace promotion;

3. To protect vulnerable sectors, particularly the youth, indigenous peoples, laborers, farmers, fisherfolks, and other marginalized sectors of society, specifically their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being, from manipulation and victimization through radicalization and recruitment to terrorist and violent extremist organizations, provided that such protection shall not infringe upon the constitutionally protected freedoms of belief, expression, and assembly, nor criminalize the mere holding or expression of political, social, or religious views unless such expression directly incites violence or terrorism as defined by law; and, to provide necessary intervention for those victims of radicalization and recruitment to terrorist or violent extremist organizations for their eventual reintegration back to society; 4. To uphold the sanctity of family life by recognizing and strengthening the role of the family as a basic autonomous social institution and as a primary force against terror grooming, and acknowledging its vital role in shielding the youth from radicalization, violent extremism, terrorism and exploitation; and 5. To uphold the basic rights and fundamental liberties of the people as enshrined in the Constitution in the implementation of the policy as stated above.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. For the purpose of this Act, the following terms shall

be defined as: a. Child refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition. b. Child Recruitment refers to the forced, compulsory, or voluntary recruitment or enlistment of persons under 18, regardless of the presence of any consent, into any armed force, armed group, terrorist organization, or violent extremist group, as prohibited by law. c. Exploitation of a child refers to the use of a child in any work or activities for the benefit of others or to the detriment of the child's development, including any form

of forced labor, armed involvement, or abuse. It includes causing a child to support, abet, or commit a terrorist act. d. Internet café or kiosk refers to an establishment or any place or venue that offers or proposes to offer the use of its computer/s or computer system for the purpose of accessing the internet, computer games or related activities: Provided, that for purposes of this Act, non-formal business establishments that provide internet services shall also be considered as internet café or kiosk; e. Internet hotspot refers to an establishment or any place or venue that offers access to the internet. It includes hotels or motels, malls, restaurants, internet cafés or kiosks, public spaces or other related/similar places; f. Internet intermediaries refer to persons or entities that provide infrastructure, platforms, access to, and host, transmit and index content, products and services originated by third parties on the internet. These include, among others: a. Internet service providers; b. Web hosting providers including domain name registrars; c. Internet search engines and portals; d. E-commerce intermediaries; e. Internet payment system providers; and f. Participative network platform providers including social media intermediaries. g. Internet service provider (ISP) refers to a public telecommunication entity (PTE) or value-added service (VAS) provider duly authorized by or registered with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that provides users or other entities with data connection allowing access to the internet through physical transport infrastructure, and such access is necessary for internet users to access content and services on the internet, and for content providers to publish or distribute materials online; h. Internet site refers to a website, bulletin board service, internet chat room, newsgroup, or any other internet or shared network protocol address;

i. People's Organization refers to any community, regional, ethnic, faith-based, self- help, mutual benefit groups, cooperative, and other related groups. j. Radicalization refers to the process by which individuals or groups adopt increasingly extreme political, social, or religious views, that directly and imminently advocate for, or incite to, violence or terrorism. This term shall not mean to overreach into protected speech, belief, or expression that does not constitute direct incitement to violence or terrorism. k. School-based organizations refers to organizations for and of students, such as but not limited to student academic organizations, varsity, Greek-lettered societies, faith-based groups, regional or ethnic associations, campus organs and student councils or governments; and for teaching and non-teaching personnel such as unions, associations and self-help organizations and groups. I. Terrorism refers to acts as defined and enumerated in Section 4 of R.A. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. m. Terrorist Recruitment refers to an active process of manipulating, enticing, encouraging, deceiving, and mobilizing individuals or supporters to become involved, join, commit, abet or support terrorist activities. It is this phase of radicalization that moves beyond passive support, such as providing information; to creating a wellspring of shared identification and to active grooming. n. Terror Grooming refers to series of deliberate and systematic acts or a process of manipulation and building dependency or a strong emotional, ideological, and/or religious bond/relationship with a victim, with the specific and direct intent to prepare, condition, or facilitate the victim's immediate involvement in terrorism or violent extremist acts, or to actively support or abet to commit terrorist acts or where such acts of grooming constitute a clear and present danger of leading to the commission of terrorism. o. Violent Extremism refers to the beliefs and actions of a person or group of people who support or use violence to achieve ideological, religious or political goals;

including terrorism and other forms of politically or communally motivated violence.1 p. Violent Extremist Ideologies refer to belief systems that advocate, justify, or promote the use of violence or terrorism to achieve political, social, or religious goals, whether directly or indirectly linked to the commission of acts defined as terrorism. q. Vulnerable sector refers to groups of people who are at higher risk of harm, exploitation, or exclusion due to various factors like age, disability, or socioeconomic status. This includes, but is not limited, to children, youth, women, indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolks, and laborers. r. Workers' organizations refer to any union, association, cooperative, self-help and/or mutual benefit association or group. S. Youth refers to those persons whose ages range from fifteen (15) to thirty (30) years old.

Sec. 4. Acts of Terror Grooming. - Terror grooming may be done online or in-person,

either in places of learning, work and/or living or a combination thereof. The act of terror grooming may be done through any or combination of the following acts when conducted with the specific intent to facilitate or cause the commission of acts of terrorism as defined in Republic Act No. 11479, and where such acts of grooming constitute a clear and present danger of leading to the commission of terrorism, and do not fall under the legitimate exercise of constitutional freedoms: 1. Knowingly and intentionally engages in a deliberate series of acts directed to a person - especially a minor or vulnerable individual - using psychological, ideological, or emotional manipulation to build trust or dependency with the intent of preparing, conditioning, or facilitating that person's involvement in terrorist or violent extremist acts. 1 UNESCO, "Preventing Violent Extremism through Education: A guide for policymakers. 2017, Paris, France

2. Indoctrinating any person with violent extremist ideologies, which directly and imminently incite to violence or terrorism, for the purpose of preparing them to support, join, or commit acts of terrorism. 3. Encouraging, soliciting, or recruiting any person to join or provide support in furtherance of terrorism. 4. Using physical or online spaces including schools, religious or cultural institutions, or digital platforms for the purposes of grooming or indoctrination that directly and imminently incites to violence or terrorism. 5. Possessing, producing, or disseminating any material either in digital format and/or hard copies specifically intended for terrorist grooming or indoctrination, where such material directly and imminently incites to violence or terrorism, either in person, online or both; or in any medium of communication. This shall not apply to materials used for academic, journalistic, or artistic purposes, unless proven to be in furtherance of terrorist grooming or recruitment. 6. Providing logistical, financial, or technological support, with actual knowledge or intent, that such support will be employed to facilitate radicalization, indoctrination, recruitment, or preparation for terrorist acts; This includes, but is not limited to, the funding of terrorist grooming activities, or the provision of software, communication devices, or means of transportation intended for such purposes; 7. Simulating, conducting, or facilitating physical, tactical, ideological, or strategic training under the pretense of lawful or legitimate activities, with the purpose of preparing, conditioning, or equipping a person to engage in terrorism or related offenses; 8. Establishing, managing, or participating in online forums, closed groups, encrypted communication channels, or any digital platform specifically designed or utilized for the purpose of grooming, indoctrinating, recruiting, or facilitating terrorist activities; 9. Facilitating, arranging, or otherwise assisting the travel or movement of any person, whether within the Philippines or abroad, with the intention that such person be subjected to indoctrination, training, or recruitment by terrorist organizations or groups;

10. Knowingly concealing, withholding, or intentionally misrepresenting the true nature, purpose, or intent of any group, organization, association, or activity, for the purpose of recruiting, radicalizing, or grooming individuals for terrorism or violent extremism and; 11. Employing cultural, religious, academic, or ideological narratives in a deceptive or manipulative manner with the intent to justify, promote, normalize, or facilitate extremist beliefs, ideologies, or acts of terrorism. An alien or a foreign entity conducting any of the above acts within Philippine territory, or abroad targeting Filipino citizens inside or outside the Philippines, may likewise be penalized for the said act.

Sec. 5. Responsibilities of Institutions/Organizations. - The following shall be the

responsibilities of institutions and/or organizations: 1. Schools, Colleges, Universities and Alternative or Supplementary Learning Centers or Institutions shall: a. Take reasonable and appropriate steps to prevent terror grooming within their campuses or during school-related activities, whether academic or extra-curricular, and regardless of location. b. Formulate and implement programs and activities that will enhance the information awareness and promote active participation of parents/guardians of learners in preventing radicalization, terror grooming and violent extremist ideologies. c. Formulate and implement policies and programs that will prevent terror grooming and regulate students', academic and non-academic personnel's activities to ensure that said activities are not exploited by terrorist recruiters or used for radicalization and terror grooming while safeguarding the rights to free expression and organization in accordance with the Constitution. d. Formulate and implement strategies and programs to provide interventions to victims of terror grooming for their reintegration into the school community with the assistance of mental health

professionals, guidance counselors, and relevant government agencies where appropriate. e. Monitor the activities of school-based organizations, and report all terror grooming related activities which transpire within their campuses to the relevant agency, e.g., Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), or Legal Education Board (LEB) or any member of the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee under Section 7 of this law. f. Impose disciplinary measures, and/or cause the cancellation of registration of school-based organizations, found to have engaged in or supported terror grooming related activities based on substantial evidence and proper investigation subject to existing laws, regulations, and due process. 2. School-based organization shall: a. Actively contribute to the prevention and countering of radicalization and terror grooming within their ranks through proactive, peace-promoting, and rights-respecting programs consistent with the learning institution's academic and civic mandate. b. Report suspected activities or behaviors involving terror grooming to the proper school authorities or concerned government agencies, in accordance with institutional protocols and national laws. c. In cases where it is established through due process that a school-based organization, as a collective entity, knowingly or negligently facilitated, abetted, or directly engaged in terror grooming or related activities, appropriate sanctions may be imposed. This may include temporary or permanent suspension of registration, subject to a formal investigation, the right to be heard, and the final determination by the administration or a competent authority, e.g., student affairs office of the school, college or university as defined by applicable laws and institutional rules.

d. If the involvement in terroristic activity is determined by the learning institution's administration or a competent authority, e.g., the student affairs office of the school, college or university to be an isolated act of an individual member, and there is no evidence of organizational complicity, the organization shall not be held liable. 3. Workers' Organization shall: a. Prevent and counter radicalization and terror grooming within their ranks through proactive programs and activities consistent with the workers' organization's purpose, i.e., for the promotion of their rights and welfare. b. In case of terror grooming being conducted or has been committed resulting to members of their organization being recruited and surrendered, captured or killed during the conduct of a terrorist activity, said organization's registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), whichever has jurisdiction, shall be canceled. However, in cases wherein only a member of the organization was recruited and upon determination of pertinent government agency, the said organization shall not be held liable. 4. People's Organizations in Communities shall: a. To prevent and counter radicalization and terror grooming within their ranks through proactive programs and activities consistent with their organization's mandate and purpose. b. Inform pertinent authorities, e.g., Barangay Council, Sangguniang Kabataan, Municipal or City Peace and Order Council or any of its members for appropriate actions to prevent and counter said terror grooming activities within their organization or community. c. In case of terror grooming being conducted or has been committed resulting in members of their organization being recruited and surrendered, captured or killed during the conduct of a terroristic

activity, said people's organization registration shall be canceled and banned in the community. The ban may be temporary or permanent depending on the circumstances of the particular instance, and evaluation and determination of a competent authority, or the Barangay Council, the Sangguniang Kabataan, the Municipal or City Peace and Order Council with the assistance of the Municipal or City Social Work and Development Office. However, in cases wherein only a member of the organization was recruited and upon determination of the aforementioned office, the said organization shall not be held liable. 5. Internet Intermediaries shall: a. Adopt in their terms of service or service agreements with third-party users or creators of contents, products and services the prohibition of any form or any conduct of streaming or live-streaming of terror grooming in the use of their website, platform, server or facility. b. Immediately block access to, remove or take down the internet address, uniform resource locator (URL), websites or any content thereof promoting violent extremist ideologies or terror grooming materials or activities involving streaming or live-streaming, within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of notice from a competent authority, i.e., National Telecommunication Communication, NBI or PNP; notice containing sufficient information to identify the content and its source: Provided, That this period may be extended to another twenty-four (24) hours upon submission of a written justification if the notice was made by any private citizen or by a competent authority without sufficient information to identify the content and its source; c. Develop, establish and install mechanisms or measures designed to prevent, detect, respond or report violations of this Act within their websites, platforms, applications, servers or facilities, compatible with the products and services they offer that may be in accordance with the global best practices and guidelines to counter terrorism which may include the installation of available

technology, program, or software to ensure that access to or streaming of violations of this Act will be removed, blocked or filtered; 6. Internet Service Providers (ISPs). - In addition to the above duties and responsibilities, all ISPs shall: a. Notify the PNP or the NBI within forty-eight (48) hours from receipt of information that any form of terror grooming is being committed using its server or facility, or is likely being committed using its server or facility; b. Block terror grooming and/or violent extremist materials or the streaming or live- streaming promoting violent extremism within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of notice containing sufficient information to identify the content and its source: Provided, That if the information contained in the notice points to a legitimate website where the blocking thereof may result to blocking of legitimate contents therein, the ISPs shall have the obligation to inform the PNP or NBI within the same period of such fact: Provided, further, That failure of the ISPs to block any form of terror grooming activities and violent extremist materials or the streaming and/or live-streaming of terror grooming activities within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of notice as described above, shall be prima facie evidence of knowledge; c. Develop and adopt a set of systems and procedures for preventing, blocking, detecting, and reporting of terror grooming committed within their platforms, by partnering with organizations that maintain the most comprehensive list of URLS. 7. Responsibility of All Internet Hotspots, Cafés or Kiosks. - Internet hotspots, cafés or kiosks shall: a. Notify the competent authority, within twenty-four (24) hours from obtaining facts and circumstances, of any violation of this Act that are being committed within their premises: Provided, that there is a prima facie knowledge that a violation of this Act is being committed if such acts has been committed within the premises of such internet hotspot, café or kiosk;

b. Install and update programs and software designed to detect terror grooming activities and ensure that access to or transmittal of violent extremist materials will be blocked or filtered; and, c. Promote awareness against terror grooming through clear and visible signages in both English and the local dialect, with local and national hotlines posted within their facilities.

Sec. 6. Extraterritorial Application. - This Act shall apply to any Filipino citizen or

any person who commits any prohibited act defined herein outside the Philippines, 9 consistent with international law and applicable extradition treaties.

Sec. 7. Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Terror Grooming Prevention. - An

Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Terror Grooming Prevention (IACCTGP) shall be created mandated to perform the following: 1. To facilitate coordination and collaboration between relevant government agencies, e.g., national, regional and local government to prevent terror grooming and provide the necessary interventions for the victims and their families. 2. To formulate and implement a national strategy and plan to prevent radicalization and recruitment of vulnerable sectors; and prevent terror grooming especially among children and other vulnerable sectors through a whole-of-nation approach and collaboration of all pertinent government agencies and stakeholders including private sector, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations and people's organizations. 3. To review media content (including online platforms) that explicitly incites or praises terrorism or violent extremism, while ensuring that constitutionally protected speech is not restricted. In performing such function, the Committee shall strictly uphold the constitutional right to freedom of expression and shall not impose any form of censorship or prior restraint on media content, unless such content satisfies the legal threshold of incitement to terrorism or violence, as defined under Philippine law and international human rights standards.

4. The Committee shall also issue regular public reports and provide due process to creators or distributors of content under review. 5. To initiate or file complaint against any suspected violator, person or organization committing any act as provided for in Section 4 of this Act. The Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee shall convene forthwith upon the enactment of this law to formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, 7 including internal organizational structure and guidelines for the effective and efficient 8 operation and realization of the mandate of this Act. The Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Terror Grooming Prevention shall be composed of the following: a. Executive Secretary as the Chairperson b. Secretary of Social Welfare and Development as the Vice Chairperson c. National Security Adviser d. Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity e. Secretary of National Defense f. Secretary of Interior and Local Government g. Secretary of Information and Communication Technology h. Secretary of Education i. Secretary of Labor and Employment j. Secretary of Foreign Affairs k. Secretary of Justice 1. Secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos m. Chairperson of the National Youth Council n. Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous People o. Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education p. Director General of the Philippine Information Agency q. Chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board r. Chief of the Philippine National Police 5. Chairperson of the National Youth Commission

t. Three (3) Private Sector Representatives (preferably from faith-based organization, academe and civil society organization). The IACCTGP may call or invite any government agency or entity and its instrumentalities, government owned and controlled corporation, state/local university and college, civil society organization and interim bodies relevant to the attainment of the mandate of this Act.

Sec. 8. The National Secretariat. - A National Secretariat shall be organized to

8 supervise and coordinate the implementation of the national strategy. The DSWD shall 9 serve as the Secretariat of the IACCTGP. The National Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director with the rank of an Undersecretary. The National Secretariat shall formulate its organizational structure including the roles, functions and relationships of its component departments and/or units; and its respective officers and personnel in accordance with existing laws, regulations and issuances by the Civil Service Commission and other relevant agencies.

Sec. 9. The National Terror Grooming Prevention Program. - A National Terror

Grooming Prevention Program (NTGPP) shall be implemented with strict adherence to human rights, privacy laws, and constitutional safeguards, ensuring that all interventions are voluntary, nondiscriminatory, and focused on genuine prevention of violence rather than suppression of legitimate expression. The NTGPP shall have the following functions: 1. Prevent the spread of radical and violent extremist ideologies by identifying and addressing early signs of radicalization among vulnerable individuals and communities. 2. Promote resilience among youth and vulnerable sectors to counter violent extremist ideologies and prevent recruitment, through identification and provision of early intervention for the said sectors. 3. Strengthen inter-agency coordination and community involvement in detecting, intervening, and supporting deradicalization efforts at the national and local levels.

4. Uphold human rights and democratic values by ensuring that interventions respect the constitutional freedoms of belief and expression while protecting society from their misuse for violent or terroristic purposes. 5. All government agencies and local government units involved in the implementation of deradicalization and counter-terrorism programs shall conduct regular capacity-building activities, including training in identifying indicators of radicalization, trauma-informed response, human rights standards, and culturally appropriate intervention strategies, for educators, social workers, law enforcement personnel, barangay officials, health professionals, and other frontline service providers. 6. Develop and strengthen policy frameworks and platforms to address and early detect the stages of radicalization, grooming and grooming in areas of learning, work, and living. 7. Develop strategies to counter online, digital, and traditional terror grooming and recruitment, by strengthening public information, promoting digital literacy, closely monitoring online violent extremist or terrorist activities, and, which may be related to terror grooming, with PIA spearheading such initiatives. 8. Develop strategies to facilitate disengagement of victims of terror grooming from terrorist groups and provide physical and psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration services. 9. Support families, schools, learning institutions and local institutions in recognizing early warning signs of radicalization and violent extremism, and equipping them with tools to intervene constructively, such as peace education, conflict resolution, peace building, among others. 10. Establishment of Specialized Psychological and Social Support Services - The government shall ensure the availability and accessibility of cuiturally sensitive, trauma-informed, and evidence-based psychological and psychosocial support services, including mental health care, counseling, and rehabilitation programs, for individuals identified to be at risk of radicalization or those who have disengaged

from violent extremist or terrorist organizations, in accordance with Republic Act No. 11036 or the "Mental Health Act". 11. Implementation of Vocational Training and Educational Opportunities - The government shall develop and implement education, vocational training, and livelihood development programs specifically designed for individuals and communities vulnerable to radicalization. These programs shall include skills development, access to formal and non-formal education, employment facilitation, and socioeconomic reintegration, in coordination with the TESDA, DOLE, DepEd, and LEB. 12. Engagement of Former Violent Extremists and Victims of Terrorism as Peer Mentors and Advocates - Subject to appropriate vetting and safeguarding mechanisms, former members of designated terrorist organizations and survivors of terrorist acts may be engaged, upon their informed consent, as peer advocates or mentors in structured outreach, dialogue, and awareness-raising programs, to promote disengagement from violence and reintegration into society, in accordance with restorative justice principles. 13. Promotion of Community Dialogue and Interfaith Initiatives - The government shall support and institutionalize interfaith and intercultural dialogue mechanisms, peace education forums, and community engagement programs involving religious leaders, youth, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders to counter extremist narratives and promote tolerance, pluralism, and mutual understanding, consistent with the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion and expression. 14. Integration of Digital Literacy and Strategic Counter-Narrative Campaigns - The State shall institutionalize digital literacy education and counter-narrative development programs aimed at preventing online radicalization. These initiatives shall equip youth and communities with the capacity to critically evaluate extremist content online and promote alternative messages of peace and resilience, in coordination with the DICT, NTC, PIA, and relevant civil society partners.

15. Development of Reintegration and Community Acceptance Programs - The government shall adopt reintegration frameworks and community sensitization strategies aimed at facilitating the reintegration of individuals who voluntarily disengage from violent extremist groups. These shall include education campaigns to reduce stigma, support family reunification, provide psychosocial support, and foster acceptance in communities, consistent with restorative justice and inclusive peacebuilding principles.

Sec. 10. National Terror-Grooming Prevention Watch Program. - A Terror Grooming

9 Prevention Watch Program shall be established by the city/municipal/barangay local 10 government units at the barangay level to: a. Conduct barangay-level monitoring and community risk mapping; b. Provide anonymous reporting channels for parents, teachers, and community leaders; c. Implement rehabilitation pathways for individuals voluntarily disengaging from indoctrination or recruitment

Sec. 11. National Centralized Database. - The IACCTGP, in compliance with Republic

17 Act No. 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012), shall establish, administer and operate a centralized and updated national database of victims of terror grooming, containing only necessary data such as name including aliases, age, sex, address, place and circumstances of grooming, organizational affiliation, and other relevant information for policy purposes. Data shall be collected and stored securely, with access limited to authorized officials.

Sec. 12. Protection of Rights and Due Process. - No act shall be penalized under this

Act unless intent to facilitate terrorism is established beyond reasonable doubt. The mere expression of political, religious, or ideological beliefs - absent incitement to terrorism or violence - shall not be criminalized. In accordance with Articles 37 and 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol on Children in Armed Conflict, and consistent with pertinent provisions of the R.A. 10630 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, children alleged to

have been radicalized or groomed shall be treated primarily as victims in need of rehabilitation and reintegration, not as offenders.

Sec. 13. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of the acts described under Section 4

4 hereof shall be punished according to the following penalties: 1. If the victim of any of the acts mentioned in Section 4 is found to be a child during the time of grooming and recruitment, the penalty to be imposed shall be forty (40) years and a fine of Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) without benefit of parole and benefits of R.A. 10592. 2. If the act is committed by a Public Official or employee he/she shall be charged with administrative offense of grave misconduct and/or disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino people, and be meted with penalty of dismissal from service, with the accessory penalties of cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual absolute disqualification from running for any elective office or holding any public office, and shall serve a prison term of twenty (20) years and a fine of Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) without benefit of parole and benefits of R.A. 10592. 3. If the offender exercises moral ascendancy (for example, as a teacher, coach, spiritual leader, or guardian) over the victim, and this relationship is exploited in committing the crime, the penalty shall be twenty (20) years and a fine of Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) without benefit of parole and benefits of R.A. 10592. 4. Any person found to be guilty of any of the acts enumerated in Section 4 shall suffer the penalty of fifteen (15) years and a fine of Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) without benefit of parole and benefits of R.A. 10592. 5. School administrators shall be held liable for damages if any of the acts mentioned in Section 4 be committed within their school premises, and/or during school sponsored program or activity, and it is proven that such administrators acted with gross negligence or willful disregard of their duties to prevent such acts, after being duly informed of credible threats.

6. If the act is committed by a Foreign Individual, the offender shall, after serving sentence, be deported and permanently blacklisted from re-entry into the Philippines. Any foreign entity or organization found liable shall be permanently barred from operating within the Philippines, and its assets subject to forfeiture under applicable and existing laws.

Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Inter-Agency Coordinating

8 Committee on Terror Grooming Prevention shall convene to formulate and issue the 9 implementing rules and regulations of this Act within ninety days (90) from its publication.

Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional,

the remainder shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, or rules inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

15 in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,