SC defers action on petitions vs cybercrime law

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court wants to further study the various petitions questioning Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, Public Information Office Chief Gleo Guerra said Tuesday.

“The SC did not issue a TRO in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 [and] petitions are up for further study,” Guerra said in a statement.

The high court deferred the deliberation on the controversial law to next Tuesday.

Guerra said the high court en banc (full court) has a quorum with 10 Justices present.

Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta and Mariano Del Castillo are on official business attending the Justice Sector Peer-Assisted Network Community of Practice Meetings for Information Systems Professionals in the Justice Sector and for Public Prosecutors in Croatia on Sept. 27 and 28 and Oct. 1 and 2 while Justice Roberto Abad is on official leave. Justice Martin Villarama is back from official business trip abroad.

So far, seven petitions from various organizations have been filed with the high court, all claiming that several provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act violates the 1987Constitution specifically those on freedom of speech, equal protection of the law, right to privacy, illegal searches and seizures, double jeopardy, and libel.