Student leaders from four universities in Cebu City filed with the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, July 28, the 20th petition on the alleged unconstitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) which the government started implementing last July 18.

They asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would stop the implementation of the law that was signed by President Duterte last July 3.
They challenged several provisions in ATA, Republic Act No. 11479, particularly those on the definition of terrorism, what acts constitute terrorism, and arrests without warrant.
They pointed out that Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 25, 29, and 46(m) violate, among other constitutional guarantees, the citizens’ rights to due process, equal protection, presumption of innocence, privacy, and freedom of expression, and transgress legislative authority, separation of powers, and judicial prerogative.
Listed as petitioners were Hendry Abendan of the Center for Youth Participation and Development Initiatives, Calvin Dhame Lagahit of the Cebu Normal University (CNU) Student Democratic Party, Christian Louie Ilustrisimo of CNU Students Republic Party, Benna Lyn Rizon of CNU Reformative Leaders (Re-Lead) Party Lynie Regidor of the University of the Philippines Cebu (UP-Cebu) Union of Progressive Students, Hannson Kent J. Namoc of UP-Cebu Nakahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante, Gilbert G Apura Jr. of University of San Carlos (USC) Student Power Party, David C. Suico of USC Student Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy, and Mary Therese T. Maurin of the University of Cebu Law Student Society.
A copy of their petition was not immediately available. Journalists covering the SC secured portions of their petition from their social media posts.
It is expected that their petition would be consolidated with the other petitions so far filed against ATA.