CDI4

INTRODUCTION TO
TERRORISM
INVESTIGATION
 The terms terrorism and terrorist both carry a strong, negative connotation. These terms, often used
as political labels to condemn violence or threat of violence by certain actors, are also described as
immoral, indiscriminate or unjustified. Those labeled “terrorists” rarely identify themselves as such
and typically, use other generic terms or terms specific to their situation, such as separatist,
freedom fighter, liberator, revolutionary, vigilante, militant, paramilitary, guerrilla, rebel, jihadi,
mujaheddin or fedayeen, or any similar-meaning word in other languages.

 DEFINITION OF TERRORISM
Terrorism is a form of unconventional warfare characterized by the deliberate use of violence, often
targeting civilians, to instill fear and panic within a population. This method is employed with the aim
of advancing a political, ideological, or religious agenda. The term “terrorism” has evolved over time
and can be subjective, with different entities and individuals employing varying definitions based on
their perspectives. Governments, international organizations, and scholars grapple with defining
terrorism, recognizing its diverse manifestations and motivations.
CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF TERRORISM

1.Revolutionary Terrorists
Revolutionary terrorists employ violence, including
kidnapping, assassination, and bombing, to instill fear in
those in power and their supporters. The goal is to provoke
repressive responses from the government, ultimately
aiming to replace the existing regime with one that aligns
with their desired political or religious views.1

2.Political Terrorists
Political terrorism is directed at people or groups who oppose
the terrorists’ political ideology or whom the terrorists define as
“outsiders” who must be destroyed. Political terrorists may not
want to replace the existing government, but they do want to
shape it so that it accepts its views
 3.Nationalist Terrorists
National terrorists promote the interest of a minority ethnic or religious group
that believes it has been persecuted, under majority rule, and wishes to carve
out its own independent homeland.

4.Cause-Based Terrorists
Certain terrorists, like Al-Qaeda led by Bin Laden, target individuals or
governments they oppose, promoting a specific social or religious cause.
Their goal is not to establish a homeland or overthrow a government but rather
to use violence to attract followers and impose their social and/or religious
code globally.

5.Environmental Terrorists
The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) has been globally
active for years, engaging in arson attacks on various
properties, including SUV sales lots, shopping malls, and
homes. The organization’s scale has prompted
investigations into its status as a terrorist network.
6.State-Sponsored Terrorists
State-sponsored terrorism occurs when a repressive government enforces obedience,
oppresses minorities, and suppresses political dissent. Insights into this often come
from the work of human rights groups.

7.Criminal Terrorists
Terrorist groups can veer into common law crimes like drug trafficking or selling
nuclear materials, with these activities occasionally becoming more lucrative
than the group’s initial objectives.
TRENDS OF TERRORISM
Terrorism, itself, is generally not a crime, although Republic Act
No. 9372, which is entitled as “An Act to Secure the State and
Protect the People from Terrorism. stemming from a historical
evolution rooted in the Vietnam War era. Initially associated with
various political activists, terrorism has a global presence and a
long history as a political weapon. While once linked to anti-war
and civil rights movements, terrorism has transformed into a tool
for fanatics supporting diverse social causes, often involving
radicals, militants, and religious bigotry. Law enforcement’s early
response involved compiling databases on legitimate protest
groups, leading to legislative restrictions to protect individual
rights. The evolving landscape underscores the importance of
investigators understanding this complex phenomenon.
COMMON TACTICS OF THE TERRORISTS
The most common tactics of the terrorists are as follows.
1.Bombing
The bomb the tactic common to most terror groups, is a popular weapon
as it is cheap to produce, easy to make has variable uses and is difficult to
detect and trace after the event.

2.1Hoaxes
Terrorists use IEDs to establish credibility, shifting to
disruptive hoaxes once credibility is secured. A mix of
hoaxes and live IEDs keeps security forces guessing and
tied up.
3.Arson
Arson, though uncommon among terrorists, is used to
target public utilities, political offices, and economic
establishments like shops and factories.
4.Hijacking
Hijacked vehicles in ongoing terrorist activities often signal future atrocities and
provide terrorists easy access to closed government facilities.
5.Ambush
Terrorists can choose when and where to strike, especially if their target
follows a predictable route, allowing for repeated dry rehearsals before the actual
attack.
6.Kidnapping
Kidnap-for-ransom accounts for about 8% of the terrorist incidents and
must still be viewed as a serious option open to terrorist groups.
7.Hostage Taking
In terrorism, kidnapping involves hiding the victim for material demands, while
hostage-taking openly confronts authorities, holding the victim for ransom or
other reasons.
8.Assassination
Perhaps the oldest of all terrorist tactics in the book, it is still widely used today .
ACTS OF TERRORISM
As provided for by Section 3, Republic Act No. 9372, any person who commits an act punishable under
any of the following provisions of the Revised Penal Code and Special Laws are considered terrorists :

A.Article 122 – Piracy in General and Mutiny in the High Seas or in Philippine Waters
B.Article 134 – Rebellion or Insurrection
C.Article 134-A – Coup d’état, including acts committed by private persons
D.Article 248 – Murder
E.Article 267 – Kidnapping and Serious illegal Detention
F.Article 324 -Crimes Involving Destruction
G.Presidential Decree No. 1613 – The Law on Arson
H.Republic Act No. 6969 – Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990
I.Republic Act No. 5207 – Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act of 1968
J.Republic Act No. 6235 – Anti-Hijacking Law
K.Presidential Decree No. 532 – Anti-Piracy and Anti Highway Robbery Law of 1974
L.Presidential Decree No. 1866 – decree codifying the laws on illegal and unlawful possession,
manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition of firearms, ammunitions or explosives as amended by
Republic Act No. 8294.
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT TERRORISM
Conspiring to commit terrorism incurs a forty-year imprisonment penalty. It entails an
agreement between two or more individuals to commit terrorism, as defined in Section
3, and a subsequent decision to carry out the act. The following are accomplices and
accessories:

1. Accomplices
Any person who, not being a principal under Article 17 of the Revised Penal Code or a
conspirator as defined in Section 4 hereof, cooperates in the execution of either the
crime of terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism, by previous or simultaneous acts,
shall suffer the penalty of from seventeen years, four months and one day to twenty
years of imprisonment.
2. Accessories
Any person who, having knowledge of the commission of the crime of terrorism or
conspiracy to commit terrorism and, without having participated therein, either as principal or
accomplice under Articles 17 and 18 of the Revised Penal Code, takes part subsequent to its
commission, in any of the following manner:
By profiting himself or assisting the offender to profit by the effects of the crime.
By concealing or destroying the body of the crime the effects or instruments thereof, in order
to prevent its discovery
MEMBERS:

BERNAL, ANNA GRACE O.

STODOMINGO, LAILA
MARCELINO, ESPERANZA
ALBA,JOYCE ANN
MISA, JAY MHARK
AMBE, RONIEL
NUDO, BAEL YUNARD
NICOLAS, EUGENE
DOLLETE, JOHN RAINER