Anti-terrorism law’s implementing rules to be released ‘much earlier’

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) — The implementing rules and regulations of the Anti-Terrorism Act will be completed way earlier than the deadline, officials said in the wake of the suspected suicide bombings that rocked Jolo, Sulu.

“We will have it much earlier than the 90 days deadline,” National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said in a text message to CNN Philippines on Friday. “The IRR had always been treated as urgent and extremely necessary.”

Esperon is the vice-chairperson of the Anti-Terrorism Council, an executive body tasked with crafting the IRR, along with the Department of Justice. They have until October 16 to do so, 90 days after the law took effect on July 18.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson in a separate statement said the measure can be used in going after the mastermind and conspirators in the deadly blasts that killed 15 people and wounded over 70 others in Sulu province early this week. Authorities are convinced it was a suicide attack carried out by two widows of slain Abu Sayyaf militants.

"The provision in the law has a feature that planning, training, facilitation, recruitment, can now be punished… It's just that our security forces do not know what the guidelines are. That will be included in the IRR, ”Lacson said.

[Translation: The law has provisions that the planning, training, facilitation, recruitment can already be penalized. However, security forces do not have the guidelines yet, which will come from the IRR.]

Lacson said he got information that the Department of Justice and the Anti-Terrorism Council have decided to fast-track the IRR during a meeting on Thursday. He said he understands why they are being careful in laying out the highly-awaited rules, considering that the Anti-Terrorism Act is the most challenged law at the Supreme Court, with 30 petitions seeking to junk it.

Among the hotly-contested provisions is Section 29, which allows the warrantless arrest and detention without charges of suspected terrorists for up to 24 days. Petitioners said this measure violates the three-day period prescribed in the Constitution for pre-trial detention.

They also questioned the Anti-Terrorism Council's powers encroaching on judges’ exclusive authority to issue warrants. Solicitor General Jose Calida, the government's top lawyer, earlier stood by the validity of the measure and asked the high court to dismiss the petitions.

Resource: CNNPhilippines