SC limits number of lawyers to attend anti-terror law oral arguments

The Supreme Court (SC) is limiting the number of lawyers allowed to attend oral arguments on the anti-terrorism law this month, the first event of its kind during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an advisory released on Friday, the SC said only eight presenting lawyers from the side of the petitioners shall be physically present at the en banc session hall on January 19.

Only one lawyer for each of the 37 petitions, if they are not among the eight presenters, will be allowed to attend.

Solicitor General Jose Calida, who represents the government, may bring only up to three lawyers with him. 

All attendees have to present a negative COVID-19 RTC-PCR test result taken within 72 hours before the oral arguments, the SC said.

Each side will have 45 minutes to argue their position on the issues related to the constitutionality of the anti-terrorism law, the court said. The justices will ask their questions after the presentation of each side.

Some six months after the first petitions were filed, the SC will hear the challengers and the government's arguments on whether the legislation violates several constitutional rights.

Retired SC justices, lawmakers, activists, students, artists, journalists, labor groups, and many others raised concerns that the law could legitimize alleged state attacks against government critics and activists under the guise of an anti-terrorism campaign.

Critics of the law say the government's "red-tagging" or "terrorist-tagging" of people and groups it perceives to be communist rebels or fronts places lives in danger.

In one case, petitioners said two Aetas were charged under the new law allegedly as a form of "reprisal" by the military for the death of a soldier in a supposed encounter with the New Peoples' Army.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council has also approved a freeze order against bank accounts "related" to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army after the Anti-Terrorism Council "designated" them as terrorist organizations.  —KBK, GMA News