SC appoints ex-Chief Justice Puno as ‘friend of court’ on anti-terror law deliberations

Inside the Supreme Court session hall for the oral argument on the Anti-Terrorism Act. Photo from SC Public Information Office

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has appointed retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno as amicus curiae or “friend of the court” for its deliberations on the petitions against Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

The appointment of Puno was mentioned in a court notice released Thursday, which was based on a resolution from the Court en banc dated February 9.

The High Court also earlier appointed retired Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza as amicus curiae in advising the Supreme Court on the legal challenges of the new law.

The same resolution also mentioned the denial of the petition-in-intervention of Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos, the two Aetas who were allegedly tortured by soldiers into admitting they were members of the New People’s Army, and who were the first persons known to be charged with violation of the anti-terrorism law.

The denial of the petition was earlier announced by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta during the resumption of oral arguments on the ATA on Tuesday.

According to SC, the resolution is denied “considering that a criminal case for violation of Section 4(a) of Republic Act No, 11479 was already filed against the intervenors before the Regional Trial Court of Olongapo City.”

In the same resolution, the court also noted the manifestation of retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and his fellow ATA petitioners about the social media posts of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., commander of the military’s Southern Luzon Command, on Red-tagging.

Oral arguments on the anti-terror law will resume on February 16.

/MUF