Gov’t anti-terror orals seen

Peralta’s retirement will allow President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint a fourth chief justice before his term ends in 2022

It is now the government’s turn to present its arguments on the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) after Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta ended the oral arguments by the lawyers of petitioners.

Solicitor General (SolGen) Jose Calida along with the members of the government panel will take center stage on 9 March 2021.

The SolGen will present the government side which will serve as the second phase of the oral arguments for the anti-terror law which took effect after President Rodrigo Duterte signed it into law on 3 July 2020.

Calida and his panel’s presentation of arguments in defense of the law which critics said will give a green light to the systematic targeting of political critics and opponents, as well as ordinary Filipinos who dare to speak out.

After the government’s presentation, the SC justices will proceed with their interpellations and the Chief Justice will call its two “friends of the court” to share their views, the third phase, on the issues involving the petitions against ATA.

Calida and his panel’s presentation of arguments in defense of the law which critics said will give a green light to the systematic targeting of political critics and opponents, as well as ordinary Filipinos who dare to speak out.

The appointed “friends of the court” are former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno and former SC Associate Justice Francis H. Jardeleza.

After the friends of court aired their views the petitioners and the government side will be directed by the court to submit their respective written memoranda in amplification of the oral arguments.

It will then be deliberated by the SC justices, though it was not known if the pleas for temporary restraining order that could stop the implementation of ATA which started on 18 July 2020 would be resolved after the termination of the oral arguments.