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 In its media advisory in GR Nos. 252578, et al. dated 09 December 2021, the Supreme Court announced the results of the voting on various procedural and substantive issues raised in the petitions challenging Republic Act (RA) No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (ATA) during its En Banc session on 07 December 2021.

 Based on the media advisory, only the qualifier to the proviso in Section 4 and the second method for designation in paragraph 2, Section 25 were declared unconstitutional. This means that the ATA as a law as well as all other challenged provisions are constitutional. Correspondingly, this means that the powers and authority vested by the ATA on the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), such as the authority to freeze the assets of the designated individuals and organizations, and the authority to investigate property or funds and conduct bank inquiry related to terrorism and terrorism financing, are upheld as valid and constitutional.

 While the AMLC has yet to receive the full text of the decision, the agency remains resolute in carrying out the authority vested upon it by the ATA and stands with the entire nation in upholding the State policy of protecting life, liberty, and property from terrorism and terrorism financing.

 Posted 3 January 2022