The more, the merrier! Ping welcomes more petitions vs Anti-Terror Law before SC

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday welcomed the filing of petitions against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 before the Supreme Court.

Lacson, who sponsored the measure in the Senate, reiterated the filing of the petitions by various parties is “democracy at work.”

“Democracy at work. Kailangan talaga i-encourage nga natin, as many petitions na i-file nila mas maganda, para talagang pag-usapan nang husto,” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

“Mas maganda magkaroon ng oral argument para ang ating SolGen maidepensa nang husto ang constitutionality,” he added.

He also reassured the public the law, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last July 3, is “a good law, swift, effective and most importantly constitutional.”

Also, Lacson said he hopes the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta – who is well-versed in criminal procedure and criminal law, will appreciate the merits.

“Umaasa ako lalo sa pamumuno ng Chief Justice ngayon kasi nanggaling sa RTC at Sandiganbayan, sanay siya sa criminal procedure at criminal law, at ma-appreciate nila. Of course 15 sila para mag-appreciate kung may merits ba ang dinudulog na petition para i-declare na unconstitutional ang mga ito,” he said.

On the other hand, Lacson noted the law has a separability clause, where if some provisions are found unconstitutional, the others that are not affected will remain in effect.

“Kung halimbawa may provision na ito unconstitutional, ito unconstitutional, ang maiiwanan tuloy pa rin ang effect noon. So may separability clause,” he said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)