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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Oral debates on cases vs. anti-terrorism law resume Tuesday

Oral debates on cases vs. anti-terrorism law resume Tuesday

Published Feb 21, 2021 12:16 pm

The Supreme Court (SC) hopes to terminate on Tuesday, February 23, the interpellation of the lawyers of 37 groups of petitioners who have sought to declare unconstitutional Republic Act No. 11479, the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020.

(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)

 “We expect that the time of the petitioners will end this Tuesday,” said Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta last Friday, February 19, when interviewed after the conferment on him of the Doctor of Laws, honoris cause (for the sake of honor) degree by the Tarlac State University in Tarlac City.

“We never expected that a lot of us (SC justices) would like to ask a lot of questions,” Peralta said.

 Tuesday’s oral arguments will be the fourth day of legal debates on the petitions against ATA.  Only the petitioners have presented their arguments since last February 2.

After the petitioners, Solicitor General Jose C. Calida will present the arguments in the behalf of the government.  It is expected that the justices would also interpellate him. 

“I hope that by Tuesday we will end the interpellation of petitioners so the solicitor general can start the interpellation,” Peralta said.

Aside from Calida, Peralta said the SC will ask one or two “friends of the court” (amici curiae) to present their statements on the constitutionality issued.

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno and former SC Associate Justice Francis H. Jardeleza have been appointed “friends of the court.”

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