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SC orders gov't to answer petitions vs. anti-terror law


The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the government to comment on at least four petitions asking the High Court to stop the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism law.

The High Court was referring to the following petitions lodged by four parties which include:

  • Lawyer Howard Calleja et al. vs. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea
  • Albay representative Edcel Lagman vs. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea
  • Lawyer Melencio Sta Maria of FEU Institute of Law vs. Executive Secretary and
  • Makabayan bloc lawmakers vs. President Rodrigo Duterte

“The four petitions are Petitions for Certiorari and Prohibition with Prayer for Issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order, and Writ of Preliminary Injunction,” the SC Public Information Office said.

“Thus, the Supreme Court ordered the consolidation of the four petitions, and required the respondents to file their respective comments on the petition and application for TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) within a period of 10 calendar days from notice,” the SC added.

Calleja has earlier said that the Anti-Terrorism law has no safeguards, considering that a person detained without a pending charge is not under the court’s jurisdiction, making the said detainee’s access to legal remedy, including court-ordered release, impossible.

Critics of the measure have also raised alarm over the law’s provision establishing an Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) and authorizing such panel of Presidential appointees to determine who are the terrorists, as well as order warrantless arrest and surveillance of suspects without filing a charge first. -NB, GMA News

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