Intent, purpose key in determining if anti-terror law IRR should cover social media –Lacson

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the anti-terror law should be anchored on the legislative intent of addressing terrorism.

After Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay suggested the inclusion of social media regulation in the implementing rules and regulations of the anti-terror law, Lacson reiterated that the law's safeguard provisions ensured that the Bill of Rights would not be abridged.

"Nothing is absolute naman eh 'di ba? Kaya lang babalik at babalik tayo doon sa definition which is bound by the intent and purpose of the person allegedly committing the crime of terrorism," the senator explained without directly accepting or rejecting the AFP chief's suggestion.

As to whether the anti-terror law could be used against suspected terrorists who utilize their social media accounts to "communicate and spread" their message, Lacson said: "The rule of evidence will apply. Doon lang ang reference natin. Depende kung how the authorities will plead the act based on evidence."

"To go beyond the definition as envisioned doon sa legislative intent, doon magkakatalo," he added.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that while the Department of Justice's legal team already started drafting the anti-terror law's IRR, it was "too early to say" whether it would cover the use of social media.

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was signed into law on July 3 despite strong opposition from local and international human rights groups who argued that the measure could be used to stifle dissent.

Since its passage, several petitions were filed before the Supreme Court questioning its legality. The law took effect on the midnight of July 18. — DVM, GMA News