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Manila, Philippines – The petitioners against the 2020 Anti-Terrorism Law (ATA) have urged the Supreme Court (CS) once again to temporarily halt the implementation of the law, citing supervening events such as the recent arrest of one of the petitioners and threats of prosecution for part of members of the military.
“Your honors, for the first time in history, the petitioners and their attorneys before this Honorable court are seriously threatened with prosecution under the contested statute by none other than a military general who is part of the State, enforcing the controversial ATA ”, One of the oralists, the representative of Albay Edcel Lagman, told the SC before the third Tuesday of the suspension of oral arguments.
According to him, one of the petitioners, Chad Booc, was among those detained by the police at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, on Monday.
“All of this would underscore the chilling effect of the ATA, which silently frightens citizens and restricts or prevents them from exercising their freedom of expression,” he added.
While Lagman did not mention the specific threat, retired Supreme Court Chief Deputy Justice Antonio Carpio and retired Supreme Court Deputy Judge Conchita Carpio-Morales have already raised the alleged threats from Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade, spokesperson for the controversial National Task. Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), through its publication on Facebook.
In a Facebook post on January 16, Parlade, who is also head of the army’s Luzon Southern Command, asked the public to be “on the lookout for these individuals, groups and organizations who are opposing a law that will protect our citizens. of the terrorists. “
Judgment Day is upon you and the Filipino people, who have already suffered enough from the evil hands of the [communists], judge ”, says his publication.
“Blood debts will be paid off very soon. The long arm of the law will reach you and your followers ”, warns the general in his publication on social networks.
READ: 2 former Supreme Court justices reject Parlade’s threats
The two magistrates made the same demonstration before the CS after Parlade suggested that he would go after an INQUIRER.net reporter for “helping the terrorist.”
LEE: 2 former judges return to score Parlade in SC
The president of the Supreme Court, Diosdado Peralta, ordered Lagman to put the demonstration in writing and provide comments to the Attorney General’s Office (OSG).
Attorney General José Cálida, however, hinted that they may request more time to comment on the matter.
But Peralta said GSO has 10 days to comment.
The continuation of the 2020 oral arguments on ATA is scheduled for February 23.
KGA
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