Petitioners ask SC anew to stop implementation of anti-terror law

Petitioners challenging the constitutionality of the anti-terror law on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court (SC) anew to stop the implementation of the measure due to “ominous events” that supposedly threatened their lives and liberty.

Before the end of the third day of oral arguments, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said the petitioners and their lawyers have been “seriously threatened” with prosecution by “no less than by a military general” tasked to enforce the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Lagman did not identify the military official but Army Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. earlier warned against "individuals, groups, and organizations opposing a law that will protect our citizens from terrorists."

The lawmaker also cited the arrest of petitioner Chad Booc after police raided on Monday the University of San Carlos' Talamban campus in Cebu City, supposedly to rescue minors belonging to the Manobo tribe.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro said on Tuesday that Booc is a volunteer teacher providing services for the Lumad community despite accusations that he is allegedly a recruiter for the New People's Army.

“The ATA is presumed unconstitutional because it is challenged as a statute infringing on free speech and other fundamental freedoms,” Lagman said.

“Because of the occurrence of these ominous events and because ATA is presumed to be unconstitutional…we respectfully pray and reiterate our plea for the issuance of injunctive relief to these cases.”

After hearing Lagman’s manifestation, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta directed the petitioners to file a written plea. The Office of the Solicitor General was also mandated to respond to the request for a temporary restraining order on the law. — BM, GMA News