The Human Security Act, which the Anti-Terrorism Law, replaced had no implementing rules and regulations (IRR), the Department of Justice (DOJ) reminded on Thursday, Oct. 15.
“Yung Human Security Act, yung inamyendahan ng Anti-Terror Act, actually sa totoo lang walang implementing rules and regulations yun (The Human Security Act, which was repealed by the Anti-Terrorism Act, had no IRR),” said DOJ Undersecretary Adrian Sugay during an interview over DZBB.
“Kaya lang ang nangyari doon hindi masyado siya nagamit. Siguro hindi malinaw, natakot rin siguro ang ating mga law enforcers (What happened was that the Human Security Act was not used much. Perhaps it was not clear, maybe law enforcers were also hesitant to use it),” he added.
Sugay made this point amid calls for the government to stop the implementation of the IRR for Republic Act 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, while there are 37 petitions pending before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the constitutionality of its provisions.
RA 11479, which was signed by President Duterte into law last July, states that the IRR should be released within 90 days.
The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has approved on Wednesday, Oct. 14, the IRR of the RA 11479.
Even without the IRR, Sugay said the Anti-Terrorism Law is already enforceable.
“‘Yung batas puwede na po gamitin yun. Yung implementing rules and regulations lang naman paglilinaw (The law can be used already. IRR is meant to clarify the law),” he said.
Sugay assured these includes safeguards against abuse and the accountability of law enforcers.
“Talagang lahat yan dinetalye namin sa IRR para magabayan lahat hindi lang ‘yung ating law enforcement agencies, lalo na yung ating mga mamamayan kung ano ‘yung dapat iwasan at kung ano ano ‘yung mga karapatan nila (We provided details in the IRR to guide not only our law enforcement agencies but also our citizens on what they should avoid and what their rights are),” he said.