SC Justices resolve anti-terrorism law petitions; ruling out soon

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court’s Public Information Office has confirmed that the high court has deliberated and voted on the cases against Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act.

“However, considering that there were numerous issues resolved in the case, as well as the fact that each Justice had to vote on each issue, there is a need to accurately confirm and tally the vote of each Justice in order to ensure the correct resolution of the Court per issue,” Supreme Court’s Public Information Chief and spokesperson Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka said.

He assured that the high court’s PIO will be releasing to the public “an accurate summary of the action of the Supreme Court with respect to the ATA case at the soonest possible time.”

Anti-Terrorism Act was signed into law on July 3, 2020, and took effect on July 18. It is the subject of 37 petitions before the Supreme Court, to most contentious law to date.

The law challenges at least 15 fundamental rights under the 1987 Constitution: 1. freedom of speech and expression; 2. freedom of religion; 3. freedom of assembly; 4. freedom of association; 5. freedom of the press; 6. the due process of law; 7. freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures; 8. right to privacy; 9. right to travel; 10. right to bail; 11. presumption of innocence; 12. freedom of information; 13. right against ex post facto laws and bills of attainder; 14. right against torture and incommunicado detention and 15. academic freedom.

Aside from the 37 petitions, several reiterative motions were also filed by various petitioners after some of its petitioners have been arrested or red-tagged by government forces as having ties with the leftist groups.

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