SC orders OSG to comment on Carpio motion over Parlade 'intimidation'

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to answer a motion by anti-terror law petitioners led by retired justices Antonio Carpio and Conchita Carpio Morales expressing concern over a military official's "intimidation" of their group.

The court gave the OSG 10 days to comment on the petitioners' manifestation and motion.

Last Monday, Carpio, Carpio Morales, and law professors from the University of the Philippines urged the SC to order the OSG to explain whether a Facebook post by Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade is an "official communication from the government or a public officer."

Parlade is a member of the government's anti-communist insurgency task force. In a public Facebook post, he warned against "individuals, groups, and organizations opposing a law that will protect our citizens from terrorists."

The post was in the context of upcoming oral arguments on the anti-terror law, which has been opposed by a wide array of groups in 37 separate petitions.

Parlade did not mention the Carpio group but named lawmakers from the House of Representatives' Makabayan bloc and lawyers from the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers, whom he has repeatedly accused of being communist members or fronts.

His post ends with: "The Day of Judgement is upon you and the Filipino people, who have suffered enough from the malignant hands of the CPP NPA NDF of which you are part of, sit in Judgement. Very soon, blood debts will be settled. The long arm of the law will catch up on you, and your supporters."

Carpio and his co-petitioners said they consider the post a "clear threat" to them because they belong to those opposing the law.

Oral arguments will be held on February 2.

Meanwhile, the SC appointed retired justice Francis Jardeleza as an amicus curiae ("friend of the court"). An amicus curiae is an "experienced and impartial" lawyer who may be invited by the SC to help in the resolution of pending issues, according to the Rules of Court.

Veteran lawyer and former solicitor general Estelito Mendoza had also requested to be made an amicus curiae but the court merely noted his motion without action.—AOL, GMA News