Human rights advocates file 28th case with SC against Anti-Terrorism Act

Several lawyers and members of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) filed with the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, August 18, the 28th petition against the alleged unconstitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

They asked the SC to issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that would stop the implementation of the law that started last July 18.

A check with the SC showed that the High Court did not tackle the petitions against ATA in its online full court session on Tuesday.

Records showed that the respondents in the later cases – from the ninth to the 25th petition -have not filed their comments as required.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) had filed its comment for the first eight petitions and sought their dismissal.

Specifically challenged in the 28th petition are six provisions in the ATA under Republic Act No. 11479.

The new petitioners wanted the SC to declare void and unconstitutional Sections 10, 12 in relation to Section 3 (e), 25, 29, 34, and 36.

Listed as petitioners are Main T. Mohammad, Jimmy P. Bla, Nazr S. Dilangalen, the PAHRA represented by Rosemarie R. Trajano, Rupert Axel M. Cruz, Maria Patricia Cervantes Poco, Leo Angelo R. Anonuevo, Takahiro Kenjie C. Aman and Muhammad Muktadir A. Estrella.

They were represented by the Ateneo Legal Services Center.

The respondents in the Executive Department were led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, and the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The petition also pleaded for the conduct of oral arguments.

But last week, the SC announced it would conduct oral arguments on the petitions against ATA “on the third week of September at the earliest, and proper notices will be issued once the date is finalized.”

While there are only 25 petitions officially docketed at the SC as of August 11, there were two other petitions which were filed through the post office by two separate groups in Mindanao.

Once received by the SC from the post office, the two petitions will be included in the list of cases filed against ATA.