SC extends TRO on cyber law indefinitely

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued an order indefinitely extending the temporary restraining order on the implementation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act signed by President Aquino last year.

The SC said that the 120-day TRO issued on the implementation of Republic Act 10175, which will lapse on February 6 (Wednesday), is "extended until further orders from the Court."

Fifteen petitioners led by the National Press Club of the Philippines, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and some militant groups asked the high court to maintain the implementation of the TRO.

The petitioners also asked the SC to nullify the new cyber law for its alleged violation of the "freedom of expression" of social media user.

During oral arguments last month, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza said that a person can be held criminally liable by merely clicking "like," "share," or "retweet," on libelous posts on Facebook and Twitter.

"A 'like' is an approval of opinion," he said. "The approval of the opinion 'Jones is a liar' can cause as much damage as actually saying Jones is a liar."

The petitioners, meanwhile, are confident that the high court will declare the law unconstitutional.