The Supreme Court’s (SC) online oral arguments on 37 petitions against the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) will resume Monday afternoon, May 17.
Expected to present their views are the two SC-appointed “friends of the court” – retired Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno and retired Associate Justice Francis H. Jardeleza.
Their views on ATA and on the 37 petitions have been sought by the SC to guide and help it in the handing down of its decision.
All the petitioners and the respondents, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) – the government’s law firm – have presented their sides on the issue.
Once the legal debates are terminated on Monday, the SC is expected to direct both the petitioners and the respondents to file their respective memorandum in amplification of those discussed during the oral arguments. Thereafter, the petitions are deemed submitted for decision.
After the oral arguments, the SC is expected to go into a month-long decision-writing period.
SC Spokesman Brian Keith F. Hosaka said that under the court’s calendar, the decision-writing period should have started last May 3 until May 28.
During the decision-writing period, sessions in the SC’s three divisions and the full court are suspended but may be called on urgent issues.