MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has released the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, almost three months after the controversial law took effect.
In an interview over radio station DZBB, Justice USec. Adrian Sugay said the IRR was made available on the DOJ’s website Friday night.
The IRR will also be published in two newspapers of general circulation, Sugay added.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the bill into law on July 3, 2020, and took effect on July 18.
The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 seeks to strengthen the Human Security Act of 2007 and criminalizes incitement of terrorism “by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners, or other representations.”
It also allows the detention of suspects for up to 24 days without charge and empowers an anti-terrorism council to designate suspects or groups as suspected terrorists who could be subjected to arrests and surveillance.
But the anti-terror law currently faces 37 petitions filed before the Supreme Court, challenging the law’s constitutionality. This makes the law the most contested since the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
