Anti-cybercrime law to take effect without rules and regulations—De Lima

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Tuesday RA 10175 would take effect on Wednesday even if it did not have implementing rules and regulations.

“Effectivity of that law is not conditioned upon the adoption of the IRR and the setting up of the Office of Cybercrime.  No legal impediment for the law’s implementation, given the absence of a TRO or injunction,” she said in a text message to reporters.

The Supreme Court held in abeyance its decision on whether to issue a temporary restraining order on the law, pending the study of the petition of private groups urging the high court to invalidate the law as unconstitutional.

Several interest groups have branded the law as threatening freedom of expression with its provisions applying libel laws from print to online media and threatening privacy laws with provisions allowing government authorities to snoop on the private emails of people targeted in law suits related to offenses defined in the cybercrime prevention law