By Jeffrey Damicog
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to finish within 15 days its review of the Anti-Terrorism bill.
“Our deadline will be set by the OP (Office of the President), but we’ll work on an internal timetable of 15 days, starting today,” DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday, June 9.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) If the proposed law has already been submitted to Malacanang, Guevarra noted that “the President has 30 days to act on the bill.” The Secretary said he expects to receive instructions from the OP immediately. “As in the past, we shall focus on issues of constitutionality,” explained Guevarra. “Our comments will be submitted to the OP and these will be incorporated in the memo for the president,” he added. Meanwhile, Guevarra declined to make any comments on the bill due to the review that will be made by the DOJ. Despite this, Guevarra allayed fears on over the broad powers of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) that will be formed once the bill becomes law. “The anti-terrorism council is essentially a policy-making body,” said Guevarra who is included as a member of the ATC. Guevarra said the DOJ will also create the proposed law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR). “The DOJ will endeavor to define more clearly in the IRR that the ATC and the DOJ will be tasked to promulgate the parameters within which the law will be implemented and enforced in order to erase any latitude for misapplication or abuse,” he assured.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) If the proposed law has already been submitted to Malacanang, Guevarra noted that “the President has 30 days to act on the bill.” The Secretary said he expects to receive instructions from the OP immediately. “As in the past, we shall focus on issues of constitutionality,” explained Guevarra. “Our comments will be submitted to the OP and these will be incorporated in the memo for the president,” he added. Meanwhile, Guevarra declined to make any comments on the bill due to the review that will be made by the DOJ. Despite this, Guevarra allayed fears on over the broad powers of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) that will be formed once the bill becomes law. “The anti-terrorism council is essentially a policy-making body,” said Guevarra who is included as a member of the ATC. Guevarra said the DOJ will also create the proposed law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR). “The DOJ will endeavor to define more clearly in the IRR that the ATC and the DOJ will be tasked to promulgate the parameters within which the law will be implemented and enforced in order to erase any latitude for misapplication or abuse,” he assured.