MANILA - Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday clarified that the anti-terror law will take effect July 18, Saturday, not July 19, as earlier announced.

Justice Sec Menardo Guevarra corrects earlier announcement -- Anti-Terrorism Act takes effect tomorrow, July 18, not July 19.

— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) July 17, 2020

Guevarra said this was in compliance with publication rules stating that the measure, signed July 3, will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspapers.

"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," Guevarra said.

"Considering that the law was published on July 3, it will take effect on July 18, which is the 15th day. This is in accordance with the ruling of the Supreme Court in 'People vs Nicolas' (G.R. no. 135877), among others," he added, apologizing for the previous statement.

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Republic Act No. 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, was signed on July 3, days before it was to lapse into law despite growing opposition locally and internationally over "vague" definitions of the word terrorism and fears it can be used to hunt down government critics.

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The measure sought to amend the Human Security Act of 2007 and allow for the creation of an Anti-Terrorism Council, in a bid to put to end the insurgency of terrorist groups.

Congress on June 9 transmitted the bill to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature.

Some groups have filed petitions in the Supreme Court, questioning the measure's constitutionality, and fears over being tagged as

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