Anti-terror law petitions pile up at Supreme Court

MANILA, Philippines — The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is gaining more opposition before the Supreme Court,  with three more petitions seeking to halt its implementation filed yesterday morning, making it the most highly contested law ain the SC with 19 petitions so far.

Among the latest filers are the Alternative Law Groups Inc. (ALG), religious groups led by Manila Auxiliary and apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo and women’s group Gabriela.

The ALG said in a 135-page petition that they are applying for a writ of preliminary injunction against the anti-terror law for being “patently unconstitutional” and asking the SC to stop government officials from implementing it.

“Given that the government is poised to proceed with the implementation of the law and continue to cause violations of petitioner’s rights, causing and threatening to cause imminent, grave and irreparable injury to the petitioner, a preliminary injunction is in order,” the ALG said.

Just like the previous petitioners, the Pabillo group and Gabriela are also asking the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the anti-terrorism law as it allegedly violated the Constitution.

Pabillo said they are hoping that the SC will listen to their petitions and give due process to it.

“RA 11479 is unconstitutional and downright invalid because it violates the due process clause and provisions on fundamental freedoms of the Constitution, other provisions of the Philippine Constitution and various Philippine rules and laws,” Pabillo’s group said in a 97-page petition.

Gabriela echoed the sentiments of Pabillo’s group, saying in a 94-page petition that they are asking the SC to “enjoin and restrain” the government from implementing the anti-terrorism act, convening the anti-terrorism council and promulgating its implementing rules and regulation (IRR).

The women’s group also asked the SC to nullify and void the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 “after due hearing and deliberation” of their petition.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that their team had convened a meeting on Friday for the initial drafting of the IRR of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which has already taken affect on July 18 even without its IRR.

Guevarra said that he respects the decision of the petitioners as he emphasized that the SC’s decision will be based on the merits of the law and not on the number of the petitions filed or the stature of petitioners.

“All these petitions, no matter how many they are, will boil down to a common set of constitutional issues. The Supreme Court will resolve these issues on the merits of the arguments advanced by the parties concerned, and not on the basis of their number of personal or professional stature,” Guevarra said.

The petitioners who questioned the legality of the anti-terror law are the groups of lawyer Howard Calleja, Rep. Edcel Lagman, Mel Sta. Maria, Isagani Zarate, Rudolf Jurado, CTHUR, Christian Monsod, Sanlakas and the Federation of Free Workers.

The groups of Jose Ferrer Jr., Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, retired associate justice Antonio Carpio, Ma. Ceres Doyo, the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP), Kabataang Tagapagtanggol ng Karapatan and Algamar Latiph have also filed their petitions against the anti-terror law.

More groups are expected to file their petition in the coming days.