MANILA – Critics of anti-terrorism law are free to contest the constitutionality of its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) before the Supreme Court, Malacañang said.
Under the IRR of the anti-terrorist law, a list of persons or entities designated as terrorist shall be published on the online Official Gazette and the website of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) before giving them an opportunity to appeal.
“Hindi naman po iyan proseso ng isang tao lang ang magdi-determine, the entire [Anti-Terrorism] Council has to agree. And there has to be a factual and legal basis for an entire council to agree,” Presidential spokesperson Roque said in a virtual press conference.
“In any case, as I said earlier, kung sa tingin po nila this is a violation of any right, they’re welcome to seek relief po sa ating Korte Suprema,” he added. “Hindi po pupuwedeng banta-banta lang iyan, kinakailangan mayroon naman pong factual basis.”
A request for delisting may be filed within 15 days from publication of the designation, the IRR said.
The grounds for delisting include mistaken identity, relevant and significant change of facts or circumstance, newly discovered evidence, death of a designated person, dissolution or liquidation of designated organizations, associations or groups of persons, and any other circumstance which would show that the basis for designation no longer exists.
There are at least 37 petitions questioning the constitutionality of the anti-terror law before the Supreme Court. There was supposed to be an oral argument on the petitions, but a motion for cancellation has been filed due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic./PN
