Initial confab on terror law petitions set

The Supreme Court on Tuesday set the conduct of the preliminary conference on the petitions assailing the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 this month.

High court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the decision to set the preliminary conference was reached by the justices during their en banc session.

“On the petitions questioning Republic Act 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the Court sets the preliminary conference of the same on November 26,” Hosaka said.

However, the high court has yet to schedule the date for the conduct of the oral arguments on the 37 petitions against the controversial measure.

Among the petitioners are former vice president Jejomar Binay, retired high court justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, several framers of the Constitution including lawyer Christian Monsod, legal luminaries, professors, journalists, human rights activists, religious leaders and youth group leaders.

Several of the petitioners have formally asked the high court to set the date for the oral arguments on the case, adding that it had further gained impetus after the Department of Justice issued the implementing rules and regulations of the anti-terrorism act.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta earlier said the huge number of petitions filed with so many issues raised had played a part in the delay of the setting of the oral arguments.

He said the high court had initially thought there would only be five petitions against the measure.

However, he expressed confidence they would be able to set the date for the oral arguments.