Petitioners and counsels against the constitutionality of the Anti-Terror Law (ATL) of 2020 demanded on Wednesday (March 10) that the Supreme Court “take immediate measures” to stop attacks against lawyers.
In a statement, petitioners said that the attacks were “directly brought about by the continuing impunity in the country,” citing the killing of 54 lawyers and judges and the victims of extrajudicial killings since 2016.
“These attacks against lawyers must stop as they threaten the practice of the legal profession and the right of the people to judicial remedies,” the petitioners stated.
The call came after the stabbing and robbery of lawyer and ATL petitioner Angelo Karlo “AK” Guillen on March 3. Guillen was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver, and his laptop and documents were stolen.
The petitioners mentioned the red-tagging of lawyer Rafael Angelo “Raffy” Aquino, who was branded a member of the New People’s Army in a now-deleted post of Armed Forces of the Philippines Information Exchange.
Another petitioner, lawyer Evalyn Ursua, complained about alleged stalking done by motorcycle-riding men at her residence.
Petitioners also expressed concern over the deaths resulting from search warrant operations where the subjects “fought back.”
On March 7, nine activists were killed and six were arrested in multiple police operations across Calabarzon. The Philippine National Police later said that the operation was “legitimate.”
The signatories included former chief justice Antonio Carpio, former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and former vice president Jejomar Binay.
Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is the most challenged law in the Supreme Court’s recent history, with a total of 37 petitions questioning its constitutionality. Ian Gabriel Trinidad