MANILA – The Office of Solicitor General (OSG) has urged the Supreme Court (SC) to cancel the oral arguments on the petitions challenging the controversial anti-terrorism law.
Solicitor General Jose Calida said, instead of oral arguments, he proposed the submission of pleadings due to logistical restrictions and health risks due to the coronavirus disease 2019.
The SC Public Information Office previously announced that the court will hold oral arguments on the third week of September at the earliest. It was not immediately clear whether it will be held at the court itself or online.
During oral arguments, the justices personally ask the parties and their lawyers regarding the issues relevant to the petitions. The proceedings, which could last for several hours, are held at the court’s session hall. Audio of the event is streamed live online.
“Holding oral arguments when COVID-19 cases are on the rise is unsafe and impractical,” Calida said. “Instead, submission of documents containing all the parties’ arguments, including written answers to clarificatory questions that the court may ask.”
The OSG also claimed that the petitions are defective because many of them contain factual allegations that could not be tried by the court.
Calida also said the petitions failed to establish an actual case of controversy that would justify the use of the court’s power./PN
