No TRO on cybercrime law

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court on Tuesday did not issue a temporary restraining order against the newly-passed Cyber Crime Law, paving the way for its full implementation on Wednesday.

Instead,the SC will decide Tuesday next week whether or not to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the controversial measure. The petitions against the law were included in the en banc agenda of the SC.

A member of the court, who requested anonymity, said the magistrates of the High Court have yet to thoroughly study all the petitions opposing the implementation of the measure.

During the en banc session, the SC justices said they will rule on the seven petitions now consolidated against the Cybercrime Act next week, the source said.

Quorum

Though having a quorum, the SC spokesperson and lawyer Gleo Guerra said the justices need more time to study the petitions.

"The SC did not issue a TRO in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 petitions which are up for further study,"Guerra said.

Among those present at the SC en banc session were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Justice Antonio Carpio and Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Arturo Brion, Martin Villarama Jr., Jose Portugal Perez, Jose Catral Mendoza, Bienvenido Reyes, and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Absent were Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, and Mariano Del Castillo, who are all on official business abroad.

"Black Tuesday"

Eighteen student and media organizations meanwhile lead demonstrations outside Supreme Court building along Padre Faura Street in Manila and dubbed October 2 as "Black Tuesday".

The groups encouraged Internet users to change their profile photos on their social media accounts into a plain black image in protest against the new law, believed to curb the freedom of expression, signed by President Benigno Aquino III in early September.

Media groups such as the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and the Philippine Press Institute will also file a petition of collected electronic signatures against the act on Wednesday before the high court.

"Unlawful"

Meanwhile, a New Zealand-based rights group has called on the SC to declare the anti-cyber crime law unlawful.

The Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA) also expressed alarm over the passage of a bill that would curtail people's freedom of expression.

"We hope that when President Aquino comes for his State visit to New Zealand on the 22nd October, he would come bearing good news that the cybercrime law has been junked and the Freedom of Information Bill finally passed," the PSNA said in a statement.

"With the Cybercrime law that includes online libel, we are concerned that the Filipino people’s freedom to express their views and criticize erring public officials is seriously threatened," the group added.