SC crafting specific rules for anti-terrorism cases

The Supreme Court is working on specific rules governing anti-terrorism cases, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said Wednesday.

“The Court did not settle with just rendering a decision on this case. We went a step further to ensure that the implementation of the anti-terrorism law is properly done when it reaches the judicial process,” Gesmundo said at a press conference.

“We want to make sure that there are specific rules governing the anti-terrorism cases so that the rights of people are respected, the right of the state is also equally protected,” he added.

Gesmundo expressed hope that the rules may be shared with the public and other stakeholders for consultation by the first quarter of 2023.

The Supreme Court published its full decision and separate opinion on the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 in February, months after it declared only two parts of the measure unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, Gesmundo clarified his previous statement about no court decision being written in stone, stressing that what he meant was that court decisions were difficult to change.

“‘Di ba may kasabahihan tayo ang nakasulat sa bato mahirap burahin. So ang desisyon ng Korte nakasulat sa bato. Para mabura yan mahirap yan. Kaya yung sumunod kong statement napaka simple. There are rare instances where a decision can be changed,” he said.

(We have a saying that what is written in stone is difficult to erase. So the decision of the Court is written in stone. It will be difficult to erase this. That’s why my following statement is very simple. There are rare instances where a decision can be changed.)

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, meanwhile, cited examples where the Supreme Court changed its doctrines such as the pork barrel, the Condonation Doctrine, the rule on illegitimate children, and the declaration of nullity on marriage. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

SC crafting specific rules for anti-terrorism cases
Source: Filipino Viral News PH