Malacañang assured the public and critics that it will wholly abide by whatever the Supreme Court (SC) ruling will be on the petition challenging the newly-signed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
“The Palace will leave it to the SC to decide on these petitions and will abide by whatever the ruling is,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Sunday.
A day after President Rodrigo Duterte signed it into law, a group of lawyers filed electronically a petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with Urgent Prayer for the Issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and Writ of Preliminary Injunction and/or Other Injunctive Remedies questioning the anti-terrorism law.
“[We] respectfully pray that judgment be rendered by the Honorable Supreme Court issuing a Temporary Restraining Order, Writ of Preliminary Injunction and/or Other Injunctive Remedies to prevent the enforcement of the anti-terrorism act beginning July 19, 2020, the same having been published in the Official Gazette on July 3, 2020,” the petitioners said.
The group, which is led by law professor and lawyer Howard Calleja, will proceed to the high court on Monday to physically file the petition.
The list of petitioners also include lawyer Joseph Peter Calleja, law professor Christopher John Lao, Reynaldo J. Echavez, Napoleon Siongco, Raeyan Reposar, civic groups Tunay na Bayani and Bagong Siklab Pilipinas, and former Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro.
