THE implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11930 or the law against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) are expected for approval by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) next month.

This as the draft of the IRR was presented during the council’s 57th regular meeting held recently.

In a statement, IACAT said that the approval of the IRR was reset to a special council meeting on May 4 “on request of some member-agencies for some final suggestions.”

The meeting was presided by DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix L. Ty and DSWD Assistant Secretary Elaine F. Fallarcuna, as chairperson and co-chairperson respectively.

A majority, or 22 out of 28 member-agencies of the Council, was present constituting a quorum to discuss and consider the matters in the agenda.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the National Privacy Commission (NPC) and University of the Philippines Institute of Government and Law Reform (UP-IGLR) also attended the council meeting as IACAT partners.

The meeting started with the introduction of the recently designated DOJ Assistant Secretaries for IACAT, namely Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV who shall oversee communications and policy concerns and Assistant Secretary Francis John L. Tejano who shall oversee operations and administrative concerns.

The matters reviewed and approved by the Council include the following:

1. Resolution to Adopt the Guidelines on the Investigation, Reporting, and Monitoring of Trafficking In Persons Cases Facilitated by Corruption;

2. Resolution Creating a Special Task Group Composed of Focal Persons from IACAT Member Agencies for the Development of the “IACAT Project Portal: Anti-Trafficking in Person Data Management and Harmonization Project”;

3. Resolution Authorizing the Department of Justice Undersecretary-in-charge of the IACAT to Sign Local Agreements or Understanding; and

4. Resolution Ratifying Six Pending IACAT Resolutions.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas