Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra clarified in a statement on Friday, July 17 that Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will take effect on July 18, not July 19.
“The effectivity clause of the Anti-Terrorism Act states that the act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation,” Guevarrra said.
According to the secretary, since the law was published on July 3, it has to take effect on July 18—exactly on its 15th day, which is in accordance with the ruling of the Supreme Court in “People vs. Nicolas.”
“We rectify our earlier statement that the law will take effect after the 15th day or on July 19. Our apologies,” he added.
[READ: The first petition vs. Anti-Terror Law has been filed. Here’s what it’s arguing]
As of writing, there are already nine petitions filed at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the controversial law. The Federation of Free Workers was the latest group to file a petition. According to them, the Anti-Terrorism Act “will have a destructive chilling effect.”
Meanwhile, the president said in a briefing on July 8 that law-abiding citizens have nothing to be afraid of.
Header photo courtesy by Grig C. Montegrande for Inquirer.net
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