MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, which granted, among others, President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a resolution made public Wednesday, the high court thumbed down the petition filed by Jaime Ibañez, former Law Dean of Laguna State Polytechnic University, for failure to show “the grave abuse of discretion committed by the respondents” that include Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, and the Interagency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
RA 11469 declared a state of national emergency and authorized Duterte to exercise powers to carry out the declared national policy to deal with the health crisis.
In his petition, Ibañez said putting individuals who are not sick under quarantine for an unlimited period is a disregard of the 1987 Constitution.
He added that the law also gave the President legislative power, which is only vested in Congress.
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Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Samuel Gaerlan registered dissent to the decision.