Petition questioning newly-signed anti-terrorism law filed before SC

https://www.facebook.com/Callejalawfirm/posts/2045398005584670

It was only a day after President Rodrigo Duterte signed it into law but a petition questioning the anti-terror law has already been filed before the Supreme Court (SC).

A group of lawyers, led by law professor Atty. Howard “Howie” Calleja, filed the petition via electronic filing asking the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a writ of preliminary injunction “and/or other injunctive remedies” to prevent the government from implementing the Republic Act No. 11479 or the anti-terror law on July 19.

Among the petitioners are lawyer Joseph Peter Calleja, UP Law Professor Christopher John P. Lao, Dr. Reynaldo J. Echavez, Napoleon L. Siongco, Raeyan M. Reposar, Brother Armin Luistro, FSC, of the De La Salle Brothers Incorporated, and civic groups Tunay na Bayani and Bagong Siklab Pilipinas.

They are planning to physically file the petition before the SC on July 6, Monday.

“While threats to our national security need to be addressed, the law, as crafted, is oppressive and inconsistent with our constitution, hence, the petition. This fight against Terrorism should not and should never be a threat to the fundamental freedoms of all peaceful Filipinos,” Calleja law firm said in a Facebook post.

A full copy of the petition has not been released yet, but it can be seen on the excerpts uploaded by Calleja’s law firm that the petitioners want the court to declare as “null and void” Sections 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 16, 17, 25, 26, 29, and 54 of the anti-terror law “for being repugnant to the 1987 Philippine Constitution.”

They are also asking the SC to prohibit “all respondents or any person, entity, member, officer, employee, representative or agent acting singly or collectively with them, from enforcing the above-mentioned sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act.”

Many have raised concerns over some provisions under the newly-signed law, including Section 29 which authorizes the government to arrest individuals who are “suspected” of committing terrorism without an arrest warrant and detain them for up to 24 days.

On Friday, hashtags such as #JunkTerrorLaw trended on Twitter as netizens expressed their outrage over the passage of the law.

Among those who denounce the President’s decision were Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan who said they will continue their calls to junk the anti-terror law.

With the anti-terrorism bill being signed into law, the government will have “fearsome legal tools to oppress and silence those who speak out and resist the injustices, the violence and the corruption of those in power,” according to Hontiveros.

Despite this, she said they will not cower, instead, they will ‘strengthen their voices’ against the curtailment of the Filipinos’ freedom.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, said he is ‘ready’ to challenge the constitutionality of the anti-terror law before the SC.

“Hindi pa tapos ang boksing. Hindi pa tapos ang laban (The boxing has not ended yet. The fight is not yet over),” he said.