Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 8) — There are no provisions regulating social media use in the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said as the draft guidelines for the law is reaching its “final stages.”
Guevarra said on Thursday he did not see any provision on the draft of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) regarding social media regulation. The IRR will be published after the Anti-Terrorism Council meets on Oct. 14, he added.
Under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the anti-terrorism council and the Department of Justice have until Oct. 16 to come up with an IRR, or 90 days after the law took effect on July 18.
There are 37 petitions before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the law that will give more surveillance powers to government forces.
Among its contentious features is a provision allowing suspected terrorists to be arrested without warrant and detained without charges for up to 24 days.
However, the justices have yet to schedule oral arguments on the petitions.
Critics have previously voiced out concerns over the measure, saying it may be open to abuse and lead to possible human rights violations.
Government officials and lawmakers have repeatedly dismissed these claims, saying citizens have their rights and that there are several safeguards under the Constitution.
CNN Philippines Justice correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
