Guevarra hopes anti-terror law IRR ready before October deadline

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said he hopes the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the anti-terrorism law will be ready for promulgation before its deadline next month.

Guevarra said he has received a first draft of the IRR and will review it, after which it will be sent to the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).

"Kung wala nang masyadong changes ang Anti-Terrorism Counil, then this will be ready for promulgation, I hope, before its deadline in the middle of October," he said over CNN-Philippines.

The law mandates the ATC and the DOJ, "with the active participation of police and military institutions," to promulgate its IRR within 90 days after its effectivity.

Though the controversial law took effect last July, Guevarra said at the time that it was prudent to wait for the IRR before enforcing it.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana agreed but said the law will be applied in the event of a terrorist act.

The law has now been challenged before the Supreme Court in over 30 petitions, making it one of the most heavily contested Philippine laws.

Much of the criticism against the law has focused on the powers it gives to the ATC, a body composed of executive officials that critics say will have the authority to order arrests and "designate " individuals or groups as terrorists.

The executive secretary will chair the ATC with the national security adviser as vice chair. The secretaries of foreign affairs, national defense, interior and local government, finance, justice, and information and communications technology; and the executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council Secretariat will be its members. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News