The Department of Justice has convened the first working group composed of the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology (ICTO-DOST) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. This is in line with the recent decision of the Supreme Court declaring its constitutionality while removing certain provisions.
“In keeping with our mandate under the law, the DOJ is initiating this much awaited IRR to clarify how government will proceed with the enforcement of cybercrime legislation,” said Secretary of Justice Leila M. De Lima. “The IRR should be straightforward and comprehensive that stakeholders are guided and the only thing that our law enforcers will do is to implement it,” she added.
Among the laws that will be harmonized are R.A. 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998, R.A. 8792 or the Commerce Act of 2000, RA 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 and RA 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Voyeurism Act of 2009. A simple procedure will also be included.
“As promised at the Senate hearing on 03 March 2014, this first round of consultations will cover the inputs and insights of fellow government agencies. The next rounds will include key partners from business, media, academe and technology companies,” said Assistant Secretary Geronimo L. Sy, head of the DOJ Office of Cybercrime.
Section 28 of the law allows for 90 days for the IRR to be promulgated from approval of the law or in this case from the finality of the Supreme Court decision.
