Año says IRR of anti-terror law will be fast-tracked

Following the remark of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra that it is prudent to wait for the implementing rules and regulations of the anti-terrorism law before enforcing it, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday said creating the IRR could be fast-tracked.

At a pre-SONA forum and press conference, Año agreed that it is prudent for law enforcers to wait for the IRR. However, he said it is not a requirement for the controversial law to be implemented.

"Yes, it is prudent to wait for the IRR but you know, IRR is not a requirement for the implementation of the law. There is already jurisprudence on that," Año said.

"It is a Supreme Court decision na after 15 days of official publication, the law is already effective. The only question is siyempre kung wala pang IRR, there are so many people who might question the law enforcers on carrying out this law on certain provisions and applications..." he added.

"What we will do is to fast-track the crafting of IRR, as soon as possible..." Año said.

Asked if he is heeding to the call of Guevarra to wait first for the law's IRR, Año said the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 should be enforced once there is a terror threat.

"Kung mayroon kasing terrorist threat, we have to apply it. Kung nakabitin o nakabingit 'yung buhay ng ating mga mamamayan, we have to implement the law. Now kung wala namang malalakihang terrorist threat, we can wait for the IRR," he said.

Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana, meanwhile, backed the statement of Año, a former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines: "Tama 'yung sinabi niya, we could wait for the IRR but if there is a terroristic action now, we are going to use it."

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the measure on July 3. It took effect on the midnight of July 18. This was despite apprehensions from the public that the said law could be used to go after critics of the government

The Department of Justice and the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), in consultation with law enforcement and the military, are in charge of promulgating the IRR within 90 days after the law takes effect.

So far, 11 petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court, challenging the new law. The latest petitioners are retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and law professors at the University of the Philippines. — RSJ, GMA News