Designating people, entities as terrorists to go through process -Palace

Critics of the anti-terror law are free to question its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) before the Supreme Court, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. issued the statement after the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers and Bayan Muna party-list slammed the IRR of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 since the IRR allows the government to publish the names it will designate as terrorists before giving them an opportunity to appeal.

“Hindi naman po iyan proseso ng isang tao lang ang magdi-determine, the entire [Anti-Terrorism] Council has to agree. And there has to be a factual and legal basis for an entire council to agree,” Roque told a news conference.

“In any case, as I said earlier, kung sa tingin po nila this is a violation of any right, they’re welcome to seek relief po sa ating Korte Suprema.”

Under the IRR, a list of designated persons or entities shall be published on the online Official Gazette and the website of the ATC.

The list must contain the name of the designated person or entity, brief description of the case, and the date of designation or date of last review of designation.

“Hindi po pupuwedeng banta-banta lang iyan or tagging lang iyan; kinakailangan mayroon naman pong factual basis before it is published,” Roque said.

A request for delisting may be filed within 15 days from publication of the designation, the IRR said.

The grounds for delisting include mistaken identity, relevant and significant change of facts or circumstance, newly discovered evidence, death of a designated person, dissolution or liquidation of designated organizations, associations or groups of persons, and any other circumstance which would show that the basis for designation no longer exists.

There are at least 37 petitions questioning the constitutionality of the anti-terror law before the Supreme Court.

In August, the SC said that it would hold oral arguments on the petitions but has not yet announced a schedule nor a resolution of Solicitor General Jose Calida's motion for cancellation on the ground of COVID-19 health risks and logistical issues. -MDM, GMA News