FEU law dean, professors file 3rd petition vs anti-terror law

The dean and several professors of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Law on Monday filed the third petition against the newly-signed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Dean Mel Sta. Maria and six professors asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order preventing the implementation of several provisions of the controversial new law while the court hears the case.

The law professors urged the SC to eventually declare the assailed provisions unconstitutional and void.

These provisions include the definition of terrorism, the acts punished by the law, the process by which individuals and groups are designated and officially declared as terrorists, and the up-to-24-day warrantless detention of terrorism suspects before they have to be brought before a judge.

The law professors argued the definition of terrorism in the law is so vague and broad that it "can be read to include legitimate and lawful gatherings and demonstrations where people assemble to exercise their freedom of speech, of expression, and of the press."

They also said the "overly broad definition" allows the law to cover "traditionally recognized and protected forms of expression against government shortcomings and excesses."

In addition, they claimed that the law, particularly Sections 25 and 29, encroach on the power of the courts by empowering the Anti-Terrorism Council, a body composed of executive officials, to "authorize in writing" warrantless arrests.

"The threat of arrest without a judicial warrant and prolonged detention... would be more than chilling enough to stifle, suppress, if not totally snuff out, any fire, flame, or even flicker, of indignation or protest against government corruption, oppression, and abuse," they said in a statement.

As members of the academe, the professors also cited academic freedom, saying the law "unduly interferes and restricts academic institutions and faculty members from freely determining and stating what to teach and how to teach."

"To them, the Act imposes state regulations that will stifle academic freedom by threatening to punish thinking and critical exchanges against the government that may be considered as terrorism," they said.

The professors said in the statement that the implementation of the law "will be a waste of vital financial resources especially during these trying times when the country is facing the COVID-19 pandemic."

They filed the petition on the same day that the group of former Education secretary Armin Luistro and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman filed theirs. Luistro's group had electronically submitted their petition last Saturday.

Other groups are expected to challenge the law. Retired SC justice Antonio Carpio previously said he will join a petition. — RSJ, GMA News