THE Supreme Court has set January 19 as the start for the oral arguments on several petitions filed against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
According to the advisory issued on Friday, petitioners and respondents shall limit their arguments to whether or not the issues raised in the petitions involve an actual and justifiable controversy; whether a temporary restraining order or a status quo ante order should be issued; and whether Republic Act No. 11479 should be declared unconstitutional in its entirety if the court finds that the definition of terrorism as well as the powers of the Anti-Terrorism Council are constitutionally infirm.
The oral arguments will also be limited to whether petitioners have legal standing to sue and whether the petitioners’ direct resort to the SC is proper.
The high court earlier scheduled Nov. 26 for a preliminary conference.
A total of 37 petitions have been filed against the law, which took effect July 22. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza