Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra expressed confidence Monday the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will be completed within the 90-day period as provided under the law.
Guevarra said the Department of Justice and other concerned agency leaders have started drafting the IRR of Republic Act 11479, which will be submitted to the Anti-Terrorism Council.
“The DOJ legal team has started drafting the IRR. We shall consult our law enforcement and military institutions as we go along. We shall also coordinate with intelligence agencies for inputs, then we’ll present an initial draft to the Anti-Terrorism Council for consideration,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.
“I believe we can finish the IRR within the 90-day period provided under the anti-terrorism law,” he added.
However, Guevarra could not say whether the IRR will cover the use of social media. “It’s too early to say,” the DOJ chief said, reacting to the statement made by newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay, who called for provisions in the IRR that would regulate the use of social media.
Gapay expressed his belief that social media is being used by terrorists to radicalize the youth and plan their lawless acts.
The law was signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on July 3 and was published in the Official Gazette on the same day.
It took effect 15 days after, or on July 18.
More than 20 petitions have also been filed before the Supreme Court seeking to declare the law unconstitutional for being “vague” and “overbreadth.”
Those opposing its implementation argued that the definition of terrorism under ATA 2020 is vague, which would allow law enforcers to arbitrarily and selectively enforce the law.