SC resets anti-terror law oral arguments after SolGen exec, staff get COVID-19

The Supreme Court (SC) has reset the oral arguments on the anti-terror law to February 2 after an official and staff at the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) tested positive for COVID-19.

Oral arguments were supposed to be held on January 19.

But Clerk of Court Edgar Aricheta said on Friday that Solicitor General Jose Calida had informed the court that his assistant solicitor general and some staff who would attend the oral arguments have tested positive for COVID-19.

"No further postponement will be allowed," Aricheta said.

The SC earlier allowed a limited number of lawyers from both the petitioners' and the government's sides to physically attend the first oral arguments it will hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All attendees have to present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours before the oral arguments, according to the tribunal.

Former solicitor general Jose Anselmo Cadiz, Free Legal Assistance Group chairman Chel Diokno, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, and four other lawyers will argue on behalf of 37 groups of petitioners.

Calida may bring up to three lawyers with him.

The oral arguments will be held over six months after the anti-terrorism law took effect.

Retired SC justices Antonio Carpio and Conchita Carpio Morales, lawmakers, activists, students, artists, journalists, labor groups, and many others challenged the law, saying it could violate basic rights and legitimize supposed state attacks against government critics and activists. -NB, GMA News