REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION

Regional Trial Court
Quezon City
Branch _____
ROQUE, Atty. Herminio Harry;
MORO CHR!TA" #EO#$E%! A$$A"CE;
&'O", (r. )oe; !ORA"O, Ro*inie;
ABERA, !te+hanie; A$CA", Maria $our*e,;
A$(ERE', -oltaire; A$TE', Czarina May;
BA$OT, !heryl; BATACA", Renizza;
CA.ETE, E*an Marri; CARAMOA", $eana;
CAMA"CE, Al*/in; &E$OR"O, Rene;
&UMA", #aulyn May; (A)AR&O, Ro*rigo ;
0O, Anna Marie; )ME"E', Anna Armin*a;
$EE, Mary Ann; MA"A$A1!A1, $ui,a;
MU!"0, Miguel; OCAM#O, Michael;
OCA"A, "orman Rolan* ; RA0AMAT, 2illiam;
RAMO!, Maricar; RE1E!, Cherry $ou;
!CAT, Meli,,a Ann; TAB"0, Cri,tine Mae;
an* TOR"O, -ane,,a,
Petitioners,
3 4er,u, 3
ERMTA, E*uar*o, in hi, ca+acity a, E5ecuti4e !ecretary
an* Chairman o6 the Anti3Terror Council 7ATC8;
0O"'A$E', Raul,in hi, ca+acity a, !ecretary o6
the &e+artment o6 )u,tice an* -ice Chairman o6 the ATC;
ROMU$O, Al9erto, in hi, ca+acity a, !ecretary o6 the
&e+artment o6 (oreign A66air, an* Mem9er o6 the ATC;
#U"O, Ronal*o, in hi, ca+acitya, !ecretary o6 the
&e+artment o6 nterior an* $ocal 0o4ernment an*
Mem9er o6 the ATC; TE-E!, Margarito, in hi, ca+acity
a, !ecretary o6 the &e+artment o6 (inance an* Mem9er o6 the
ATC; 0O"'A$E!, "or9erto, in hi, ca+acity a,
"ational !ecurity A*4i,er, an* a, &irector30eneral
:
!#ECA$ C-$ ACTO"
"O. Q3;<3=;<<>
(or? &eclaratory Relie6
7!ection, @, <, :>, A= an*
A< o6 Re+u9lic Act B@<A,
other/i,e Cno/n a, the
Human !ecurity Act o6
A;;<8
o6 the "ational !ecurity Council, O66icer3in3Charge
o6 the &e+artment o6 "ational &e6en,e, an* Mem9er o6
the ATC; A"&A1A, Rolan*o, in hi, ca+acity
a, !ecretary o6 the &e+artment o6 Bu*get an*
Management; TA", Ro9erto, a, O66icer3in3Charge
o6 the Bureau o6 Trea,ury; E!#ERO", 0en. Hermogene,,
in hi, ca+acity a, Chie6 o6 !ta66 o6 the Arme*
(orce, o6 the #hili++ine,; CA$&ERO",
0en. O,car, in hi, ca+acity a, &irector 0eneral
o6 the #hili++ine "ational #olice;
Respondents.
5333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333335
PETITION
COME "O2 THE #ETTO"ER! 9y the un*er,igne*
attorney, an* unto thi, Honora9le Court, re,+ect6ully allege?
:. #etitioner #ro6. Herminio Harry RoDue )r., o6 legal age,
(ili+ino citizen, marrie*, ta5+ayer, i, an acti4e la/
+ractitioner an* +ro6e,,or o6 con,titutional an* +u9lic
international la/ at the Uni4er,ity o6 the #hili++ine,
College o6 $a/. He may 9e ,er4e* /ith +ertinent +a+er,
an* +roce,,e, through hi, un*er,igne* coun,el, the
RoDue an* Butuyan $a/ O66ice,, at Unit :B;E Antel A;;;
Cor+orate Centre, :A: -alero !treet, !alce*o -illage,
MaCati City.
A
A. #etitioner Moro Chri,tian #eo+le%, Alliance, i, a +eo+le%,
organization e5i,ting un*er the la/, o6 the #hili++ine,. t
may 9e ,er4e* /ith +ertinent +a+er, an* +roce,,e,
through it, un*er,igne* coun,el, the RoDue an* Butuyan
$a/ O66ice,, at Unit :B;E, Antel Cor+orate Centre, :A:
-alero !treet, !alce*o -illage, MaCati City.
@. #etitioner (r. )oe &izon, o6 legal age, (ili+ino citizen,
,ingle, ta5+ayer, i, a long time acti4i,t3+rie,t an* an
a*4ocate again,t a9u,e, o6 the go4ernment. He may 9e
,er4e* /ith +ertinent +a+er, an* +roce,,e, through hi,
un*er,igne* coun,el, the RoDue an* Butuyan $a/
O66ice,, at Unit :B;E Antel Cor+orate Centre, :A: -alero
!treet, !alce*o -illage, MaCati City.
E. #etitioner Ro*inie !oriano, o6 legal age, ,ingle, (ili+ino
citizen, ta5+ayer, i, a ,tu*ent o6 the Uni4er,ity o6 the
#hili++ine, an* a mem9er the $eague o6 (ili+ino citizen,.
He may 9e ,er4e* /ith +ertinent +a+er, an* +roce,,e,
through hi, un*er,igne* coun,el, the RoDue an* Butuyan
$a/ O66ice,, at Unit :B;E Antel Cor+orate Centre, :A:
-alero !treet, !alce*o -illage, MaCati City.
@
F. #etitioner, Alcain to Torno, are all o6 legal age, (ili+ino
citizen,, ta5+ayer,, an* ,tu*ent, o6 the e4ening cla,, o6
the Uni4er,ity o6 the #hili++ine, College o6 $a/, &iliman,
Quezon City. They may 9e ,er4e* /ith +ertinent +a+er,
an* +roce,,e, through their un*er,igne* coun,el, the
RoDue an* Butuyan $a/ O66ice,, at Unit :B;E Antel
Cor+orate Centre, :A: -alero !treet, !alce*o -illage,
MaCati City.
=. The Re,+on*ent, are o66icial, o6 the "ational
0o4ernment, thu,;
<. !ec. E*uar*o Ermita i, E5ecuti4e !ecretary an*
Chairman o6 the Anti3Terrori,m Council 7ATC8, he may 9e
,er4e* /ith ,ummon, an* other +a+er, an* +roce,,e, at
the O66ice o6 the E5ecuti4e !ecretary, MalacaGang
#alace, Manila;
>. !ec. Raul 0onzalez, i, !ecretary o6 the &e+artment o6
)u,tice an* -ice Chairman o6 the ATC. He may 9e ,er4e*
/ith ,ummon, an* other +a+er, an* +roce,,e, at the
&e+artment o6 )u,tice, #a*re (aura, Manila;
E
B. !ec. Al9erto Romulo i, !ecretary o6 the &e+artment o6
(oreign A66air, an* Mem9er o6 the ATC. He may 9e
,er4e* /ith ,ummon, an* other +a+er, an* +roce,,e, at
the &e+artment o6 (oreign A66air,, Ro5a, Boule4ar*,
#a,ay City, Metro Manila;
:;.!ec. Ronal*o #uno i, !ecretary o6 the &e+artment o6
nterior an* $ocal 0o4ernment an* Mem9er o6 the ATC.
He may 9e ,er4e* /ith ,ummon, an* other +a+er, an*
+roce,,e, at the &e+artment o6 nterior an* $ocal
0o4ernment, Hamia, cor. E&!A, Quezon City, Metro
Manila;
::.!ec. Margarito Te4e, i, !ecretary o6 the &e+artment o6
(inance an* Mem9er o6 the ATC. He may 9e ,er4e* /ith
,ummon, an* other +a+er, an* +roce,,e, at the
&e+artment o6 (inance, Ro5a, Boule4ar*, #a,ay City,
Metro Manila;
:A.!ec. Rolan*o An*aya i, the !ecretary o6 the &e+artment
o6 Bu*get an* Management. He may 9e ,er4e* /ith
,ummon, an* other +a+er, an* +roce,,e, at the
&e+artment o6 Bu*get an* Management, 0en. !olano !t.,
!an Miguel, Manila;
F
:@.Hon. Ro9erto Tan i, the O66icer3in3Charge o6 the Bureau
o6 Trea,ury. He may 9e ,er4e* /ith ,ummon, an* other
+a+er, an* +roce,,e, at the Bureau o6 Trea,ury, #alacio
*el 0o9erna*or Bl*g., ntramuro,, Manila;
:E.!ec. "or9erto 0onzale, i, "ational !ecurity A*4i,er an*
concurrent O66icer3in3Charge o6 the &e+artment o6
"ational &e6en,e an* Mem9er o6 the ATC. He may 9e
,er4e* /ith ,ummon, an* other +a+er, an* +roce,,e, at
&e+artment o6 "ational &e6en,e, Cam+ Aguinal*o,
Quezon City, Metro Manila;
:F.0en. Hermogene, E,+eron i, Chie6 o6 !ta66 o6 the Arme*
(orce, o6 the #hili++ine,. He may 9e ,er4e* /ith
,ummon, an* other +a+er, an* +roce,,e, at Cam+
Aguinal*o, Quezon City, Metro Manila;
:=.#olice 0en. O,car Cal*eron i, &irector 0eneral o6 the
#hili++ine "ational #olice. He may 9e ,er4e* /ith
,ummon, an* other +a+er, an* +roce,,e, at the
#hili++ine "ational #olice, Cam+ Crame, Quezon City,
Metro Manila;
=
:<.The #u9lic Re,+on*ent, may al,o 9e ,er4e* /ith
,ummon, an* other +roce,,e, through the !olicitor3
0eneral, O66ice o6 the !olicitor 0eneral, :@E Amor,olo
!t., $ega,+i -illage, MaCati City, Metro Manila.
:>.#etitioner, hol* that ,ection, @, <, :>, A= an* A< o6
Re+u9lic Act B@<A, or the Human Security Act of 2007,
nee* Iu*icial *etermination in relation to the +etitioner,%
right, a, +ro4i*e* 9y the Bill o6 Right,, Article o6 the
:B>< Con,titution. #etitioner, 6urther hol* that *ue to
the am9iguity or the nee* 6or Iu*icial *etermination o6
the a6ore,ai* ,ection,, any *i,9ur,ement o6 +u9lic 6un*,
6or +ur+o,e, +ro4i*e* 6or in the la/ are illegal.
PREFATORY STATEMENT
:B.A citizen o6 the Re+u9lic o6 the #hili++ine, i, grante*
right, an* +ri4ilege, a, /ell a, *utie, 9y the :B><
Con,titution a, em9o*ie* in Article thereo6, al,o
Cno/n a, the Bill o6 Right,.
A;.A, +ro4i*e* 6or in the :B>< Con,titution an* a, a
,ignatory o6 the Unite* "ation, &eclaration on Human
Right,, the #hili++ine go4ernment i, *uty39oun* to
u+hol* the,e right, an* to en,ure that any action o6 any
<
entity, +ri4ate or +u9lic, *oe, not in6ringe u+on the,e
right,.
A:.The con,truction o6 the :B>< Con,titution regar*ing the
relation,hi+ 9et/een the go4ernment an* the citizen, o6
the Re+u9lic en,ure, that the latter%, right, are
re,+ecte* a9o4e all el,e. !ec. F o6 the &eclaration o6
#rinci+le, an* !tate #olicie,, Article o6 the :B><
Con,titution ,tate, that?
J!ec. F. The maintenance o6 +eace an* or*er, the
+rotection o6 li6e, li9erty, an* +ro+erty, an* the
+romotion o6 the general /el6are are e,,ential 6or the
enIoyment o6 all the +eo+le o6 the 9le,,ing, o6
*emocracy.K
AA.Thi, i, rein6orce* 9y !ec. : o6 the Bill o6 Right,, Article
o6 the :B>< Con,titution, to /it?
J !ec. :. "o +er,on ,hall 9e *e+ri4e* o6 li6e,
li9erty or +ro+erty /ithout *ue +roce,, o6 la/, nor
,hall any +er,on 9e *enie* the eDual +rotection o6
la/,.K
A@.To en,ure thi,, any omi,,ion or e5ce,,i4ene,, o6 action,
o6 any o6 the three 9ranche, o6 go4ernment are checCe*
an* 9alance* 9y other 9ranche, o6 the go4ernment. Thi,
i, an im+ortant +roce,, in the ,a6eguar*ing o6 the right,
o6 it, citizen,.
>
AE.#articularly, the action, o6 the legi,lati4e a, re+o,itory o6
+olice +o/er o6 the ,tate, an* the e5ecuti4e a, /iel*er o6
the ,ame, are +rone to Due,tion, e,+ecially /hen they
in6ringe u+on the right, an* +ri4ilege, o6 the in*i4i*ual
/hich are +rotecte* 9y the Con,titution.
AF.An* the 6inal ar9iter o6 Due,tion, regar*ing thi, nature
i, the )u*iciary, +articularly the !u+reme Court, a, it i,
+art o6 it, e5+an*e* certiorari Iuri,*iction to *etermine
/hether or not there ha, 9een a gra4e a9u,e o6
*i,cretion amounting to lacC or e5ce,, o6 Iuri,*iction on
the +art o6 any 9ranch or in,trumentality o6 the
go4ernment. The !u+reme Court in Francisco v. House of
Representatives
:
em+ha,ize* that Iu*icial re4ie/ i, Jnot
Iu,t a +o/er 9ut al,o a *utyK un*er the :B>< Con,titution
.
A=.On thi, a,+ect, the !u+reme Court, in a line o6 *eci,ion,,
ha, al/ay, u+hel* the right, o6 the citizen, a, ,acro,anct
in any /orCing *emocracy. E4en in time, o6 cri,e, an*
national emergencie,, the role, o6 the 9ranche, o6
go4ernment an* go4ernment a, a /hole, ha, 9een
limite* *ue to the right, o6 it, citizen,. Thi, /a, /hat
the Court, in a recent *eci,ion, David vs. Arroyo
2
,
:
(ranci,co 4. Hou,e o6 Re+re,entati4e,, 0.R. "o. :=;A=:, "o4em9er :;,
A;;@.
A
&a4i* 4,. Arroyo, 0.R. "o. :<:@B=.
B
through )u,tice !an*o4al30utierrez meant /hen it
*eclare* that?
J555
J&uring emergency, go4ernmental action may
4ary in 9rea*th an* inten,ity 6rom normal time,, yet
they ,houl* not 9e ar9itrary a, to un*uly re,train our
+eo+le%, li9erty.
J#erha+,, the 4ital le,,on that /e mu,t learn
6rom the theori,t, /ho ,tu*ie* the 4ariou, com+eting
+olitical +hilo,o+hie, i, that, it i, +o,,i9le to grant
go4ernment the authority to co+e /ith cri,e, /ithout
,urren*ering the t/o 4ital +rinci+le, o6
con,titutionali,m? the maintenance o6 legal limit, to
ar9itrary +o/er, an* +olitical re,+on,i9ility o6 the
go4ernment to the go4erne*.K
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A<.At +re,ent, a ,ilent threat e5i,t,, one that ha, haunte*
the /orl* ,ince the !e+tem9er ::, A;;: terrori,t attacC,
in the Unite* !tate,.
A>.Terrori,m or act, o6 terrori,m ha4e 9ecome 9y/or*,
9ecau,e o6 one e4ent that change* the /orl*%, ,ocio3 an*
geo+olitical lan*,ca+e, the !e+tem9er ::, A;;: attacC,
on the 2orl* Tra*e Center in "e/ 1orC City an* the
#entagon in 2a,hington &.C., U.!.A. To the ,hocC o6
million, /orl*/i*e, terrori,t,, hiIacCing an* comman*ing
:;
t/o air+lane,, cra,he* the ,ai* aircra6t, into the
9uil*ing, in "e/ 1orC City an* 2a,hington, &.C.
AB.The grou+ Al Qae*a, le* 9y O,ama 9in $a*en, /a,
9lame* an* later claime* re,+on,i9ility 6or the attacC,.
@
@;.n re,+on,e to the !e+tem9er :: attacC,, U! #re,i*ent
0eorge 2. Bu,h, a**re,,e* a )oint !e,,ion o6 the U.!.
Congre,, an* calle* 6or a J2ar on TerrorK. He calle* on
all it, allie, to Ioin the Unite* !tate, in thi, /ar. n hi,
,+eech, he ,tate*?
JOur /ar on terror 9egin, /ith al Qae*a, 9ut it
*oe, not en* there. t /ill not en* until e4ery terrori,t
grou+ o6 glo9al reach ha, 9een 6oun*, ,to++e* an*
*e6eate*.K
E
@:.The 6ir,t ,al4o in thi, /ar /a, *irecte* on A6ghani,tan,
/here the Tali9an, a regime that i, clo,ely allie* /ith Al
Qae*a, /a, in control. 2hen the Tali9an re6u,e* to
negotiate /ith the U.!. an* it, allie,, /ar /a,
commence*. On Octo9er <, A;;:, American an* Briti,h
6orce, 9egan aerial attacC, on A6ghani,tan, +articularly
Ha9ul.
@
J!e+tem9er ::attacC,,K
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E
J2ar in A6ghani,tan 7A;;:3+re,ent8,K
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::
@A.On "o4em9er :A, A;;:, Ha9ul 6ell. 2hat 6ollo/e* ,oon
/a, the e,ta9li,hment o6 a *emocratic go4ernment
through a nation/i*e election /hich +ut the 6ir,t +o,t3
Tali9an +re,i*ent, Hami* Harzai, in +o/er.
@@.n the meantime, a, the J2ar on TerrorK /a, 9eing
/age*, #re,i*ent, an* #rime Mini,ter, o6 go4ernment,
aroun* the /orl* thre/ their ,u++ort to the U!
cam+aign. The #hili++ine #re,i*ent, 0loria Maca+agal3
Arroyo, thre/ in her ,u++ort. Accor*ing to Time A,ia
/e9,ite?
J#re,i*ent 0loria Maca+agal Arroyo /a, the 6ir,t
A,ian lea*er to 9acC the U.!. in it, /ar on terror a6ter
BM::Oan* ,he ha, +le*ge* her Pgeneral ,u++ortP 6or a
U.!.3le* in4a,ion o6 raD.K
F
@E. A6ter A6ghani,tan, the J2ar on TerrorK turne* to/ar*,
raD then 9eing rule* 9y *ictator !a**am Hu,,ein. The
rationale 6or the raD 2ar /a, that the country un*er
Hu,,ein i, *e4elo+ing /ea+on, o6 ma,, *e,truction. Thi,
/a, o66ere* 9y #re,. Bu,h an* #rime Mini,ter Blair to
their allie,.
F
J(or or again,t the 2ar on raD,K
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:A
@F.On A March A;;@, the U! le* the coalition 6orce, in the
/ar in raD. &e,+ite the e4entual ou,ter o6 !a**am
Hu,,ein%, regime, an* the election o6 a *emocratic raDi
go4ernment, raD currently remain, a 4olatile country
,till un*er U.!. military occu+ation.
@=.!i5 7=8 year, into the J2ar on Terror,K O,ama 9in $a*en
remain, at large an* Al Qae*a, /ith it, i*eological allie,
liCe )emaah ,lamiyah an* the #hili++ine,% A9u !ayya6,
,till threaten, /orl* ,ecurity.
@<.n re,+on,e to Bu,h%, call to glo9al /ar on terror, the U!
Congre,, +a,,e* The nitin! and Stren!thenin! America
"y Providin! Appropriate Too#s Re$uired to %ntercept and
&"struct Terrorism Act of 200' or the SA Patriot Act of
200'. !imilarly, other nation, 6ollo/e*, ,uch a, 0reat
Britain, /ho,e Hou,e, o6 #arliament +a,,e* the
#re4ention o6 Terrori,m Act A;;F an* Au,tralia, /hich
+a,,e* the Anti3Terrori,m Bill into la/ in the year A;;F.
Other countrie, al,o +a,,e* their o/n anti3terror la/,.
@>.n re,+on,e to the *e4elo+ment, /orl*/i*e on anti3
terror legi,lation, the Hou,e, o6 Congre,, initiate* t/o
*i66erent 9ill, to/ar*, an anti3terror la/.
:@
@B.On @; )une A;;E, !en. Manuel -illar initially 6ile* !enate
Bill "o. <@F, An Act to Define and Pena#i(e Acts of
Terrorism and For &ther Purposes. Thi, /a, later on
,u9,titute* along /ith other !enate Bill, /ith !enate Bill
"o. A:@< on :A Octo9er A;;<. !enator7,8 Manuel B.
-illar, )r., #an6ilo M. $ac,on, )uan #once Enrile, )inggoy #.
EIercito3E,tra*a, Ramon B. Mag,ay,ay, )r. an* Al6re*o !.
$im ,+on,ore* the 9ill in ,u9,titution.
E;.On :: Octo9er A;;F, Re+. mee Marco,, /ith ,e4eral
Congre,,men an* /omen a, co3,+on,or,, intro*uce*
Hou,e Bill "o. E>@B.
E:.On :A Octo9er A;;F, the,e 9ill, /ere certi6ie* 9y the
#re,i*ent o6 the #hili++ine, 6or imme*iate enactment.
EA.The t/o 9ill, /ere ,u9mitte* to )oint Con6erence
Committee /here the !enate mem9er, o6 the Con6erence
Committee a++ro4e* it on ;> (e9ruary A;;<, /hile the
Hou,e o6 Re+re,entati4e, mem9er, o6 the Con6erence
Committee a++ro4e* it on :B (e9ruary A;;<. The
a++ro4e* 9ill /a, tran,mitte* to the #re,i*ent on A<
(e9ruary A;;<.
:E
E@.On ;= March A;;<, the #re,i*ent acte* on the ,u9mitte*
9ill an* a++ro4e* an* ,igne* it into la/ /hich 9ecame
Re+u9lic Act "o. B@<A.
EE.The e66ecti4ity o6 RA B@<A /a, ,che*ule* t/o 7A8 month,
a6ter the May :E, A;;< election, a, containe* in !ec. =@
o6 the la/ thereo6. t ,tate,?
!ec. =A. !+ecial Effectivity Clause. Q
J555
A6ter the +u9lication reDuire* a9o4e ,hall ha4e
9een *one, the Act ,hall taCe e66ect t/o month, a6ter
the election, are hel* in May A;;<.
Therea6ter, the +ro4i,ion, o6 thi, Act ,hall 9e
automatically ,u,+en*e* one month 9e6ore an* t/o
month, a6ter the hol*ing o6 any election.K
EF.Ho/e4er, a month 9e6ore the ,che*ule* e66ecti4ity, the
!ecretary o6 )u,tice, Raul 0onzalez, i,,ue* ,tatement,
that ,ent chilling e66ect, to the +o+ulace. n an inter4ie/
/ith the #hili++ine &aily nDuirer, ,tate* that the
inter4ie/, an* ,ource, o6 me*ia +ractitioner, are
J,acre*K. Ho/e4er, he 6urther ,tate*?
JO6 cour,e, unle,, there i, ,u66icient 9a,i, or i6
they are 9eing ,u,+ecte* o6 co3mingling /ith terror
,u,+ect,.K
=
= J
&o) can recommen* /ireta+ on allege* terrori,t, Q 0onzalez,K 9y Tetch
Torre,, %)*%R+R.net, )uly ;E, A;;<, L
:F
E=.On ;F )uly A;;<, the "ational Union o6 )ournali,t, o6 the
#hili++ine, 7"U)#8 calle* on the :E
th
Congre,, Jto act
+o,tha,te on thi, +otential threat not Iu,t to +re,,
6ree*om 9ut to *emocracy it,el6 9y re4ie/ing or, 9etter
,till, re+eal altogether thi, la/ that i, /or,e than the
*i,ea,e it +ur+ort, to cure.K
<
They /ere +articularly concerne* /ith !ec. 0onzalez%,
,tatement Duote* a9o4e, to /hich chairman )o,e Torre, )r. an*
,ecretary general Ro/ena #araan, on 9ehal6 o6 "U)#, i,,ue* a
,tatement ,tating thu,?
JThi, i, a ,tatement a, 4ague an* a, 6raught /ith
*anger a, many o6 the anti3terror la/R, +ro4i,ion,,
e,+ecially tho,e that ,u++o,e*ly *e6ine /hat terrori,m
i, an* /ho terrori,t, are, +ro4i,ion, ,o o+en3en*e*
they coul* actually lea* to anyone an* e4eryone /ho
go4ernment *eem, 6it 9eing tagge* a terrori,t.K
>
E<.On the other han*, Am9a,,a*or Ali,tair Mac&onal*,
hea* o6 *elegation o6 the Euro+ean Commi,,ion to the
#hili++ine, ,ai* in Bacolo* City, JThe anti3terrori,m la/
htt+?MMarchi4e.inDuirer.netM4ie/.+h+S*9T:U,tory_i*T<E<E:N.
< J
0onzalez V/ireta+ me*ia% ,tatement ,lamme* ,K 9y "onoy E5+ina,
%)*%R+R.net, )uly ;F, A;;<, L
htt+?MMarchi4e.inDuirer.netM4ie/.+h+S*9T:U,tory_i*T<EBBAN.
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:=
i, not an e5cu,e to go out an* ,hoot +eo+leW to target
+eo+le 6or matter, not +ro4i*e* in the la/.K
B
E>.n relation to the a6orementione*, a +henomenon ha,
ari,en in the recent hi,tory o6 our country that i,
remini,cent o6 the Martial $a/ *ay, /hen +eo+le ,im+ly
*i,a++ear an* +ro9a9ly ,ummarily Cille*. n a**ition,
there i, a gro/ing num9er o6 +er,on,, ,u++o,e*ly or
,u,+ecte* to 9e allie* /ith the $e6t, /ho are Cille* in a
+attern that i, not uniDue to our country? motorcycle3
ri*ing an* 9onnet3/earing hitmen ,hooting their target
e4en in 9roa* *aylight in the +re,ence o6 a lot o6 +eo+le.
EB.!ec. E*uar*o Ermita, in an inter4ie/ /ith The Dai#y
Tri"une ,ai* that concerne* agencie, o6 the go4ernment
an* the anti3terrori,m council are no/ +re+aring the
im+lementing rule, an* regulation,, a, /ell a, the
+u9lication o6 the la/ 6or +u9lic a/arene,,.
:;
F;.On :F )uly A;;<, a, ,che*ule*, Re+u9lic Act B@<A
9ecame e66ecti4e.
B
JAnti3terror la/ not a licen,e 6or Cilling, 33 EU en4oy,K 9y Carla 0omez,
%)*%R+R.net, )uly ;F, A;;<, L
htt+?MMarchi4e.inDuirer.netM4ie/.+h+S*9T:U,tory_i*T<EB>=N.
:;
J2ireta+ on Iournali,t, +o,,i9le un*er anti3terror la/ O &o) chie6,K 9y
BenIamin B. #ulta, The Dai#y Tri"une, )uly F, A;;<, L
htt+?MM///.tri9une.net.+hMhea*line,MA;;<;<;Fhe*@.htmlN.
:<
F:.A, /ith any la/, RA B@<A reDuire, that m+lementing
Rule, an* Regulation, 9e *e4elo+e*. E5ecuti4e !ecretary
Ermita ha, ,ai* that concerne* agencie, o6 the
go4ernment an* the Anti3Terrori,m Council ha4e 9egun
the +re+aration o6 the la/%, RR, a, /ell a, the
+u9lication o6 the la/%, im+lementation 6or +u9lic
a/arene,,. Ermita liCe/i,e +arrie* the +o,,i9le
+o,t+onement o6 the im+lementation o6 the la/ *e,+ite
the a9,ence o6 the RR.
FA.Ho/e4er, *ue to the am9iguity o6 ,ome o6 it, +ro4i,ion,
an* gi4en the +re,ent ,tate o6 our ,y,tem o6 in4e,tigation
an* cu,to*ial +roce*ure, there i, an imminent +o,,i9ility
o6 mi,inter+retation there9y o+ening the i*enti6ication o6
Jterrori,t,K to any an* all citizen, /ho commit act,
/ithin the ,u++o,e* +ur4ie/ o6 the *e6inition.
F@.Moreo4er, ,e4eral +ro4i,ion, o6 the ,ai* la/ +o,e a
gra4e threat to the li6e, li9erty an* +ro+erty o6 (ili+ino,
/hich are hel* ,acro,anct in the Bill o6 Right, en,hrine*
in our +re,ent Con,titution. Hence, thi, +etition.
:>
NATURE OF THE PETITION
FE.Thi, i, a #etition 6or &eclaratory Relie6 un*er Rule =@ o6
the Re4i,e* Rule, o6 Court ,eeCing the *eclaration o6 the
4ali*ity o6 con,truction o6 Re+u9lic Act B@<A +articularly
,ection, @, <, :>, A= an* A< in relation to the +etitioner,%
right, a, +ro4i*e* 6or in Article o6 the :B><
Con,titution.
LOCUS STANDI
FF.#etitioner,, la/yer an* ,tu*ent,, are ,uing a, citizen, o6
the #hili++ine, an*, 9eing a +ro6e,,or an* ,tu*ent, o6
la/, a4er that it i, their re,+on,i9ility, nay *uty, to a,,ert
their +u9lic right, /hen there i, a clear an* +re,ent
*anger o6 the,e right, 9eing uncon,titutionally
re,traine* 9y the +olitical 9ranche, o6 go4ernment in the
+romulgation an* e5ecution o6 the Human !ecurity Act o6
A;;<.
:B
F=.#etitioner (r. &izon i, ,uing a, a mem9er o6 clergy,
,tating that the la/ in6ringe, on the right o6 the +eo+le to
6reely e5erci,e their religion, that 9y not inclu*ing
con6e,,ion, ma*e 9y a +er,on to a +rie,t or mini,ter a,
inclu*e* among the +ri4ilege* in6ormation not ,u9Iect to
uncon,titutional ,ur4eillance, the la/ it,el6 *oe, not
recognize the right o6 the +eo+le to +ractice their
religion, o6 /hich ,uch con6e,,ion i, an integral +art.
F<.#etitioner Moro Chri,tian #eo+le%, Alliance i, an
organization that ,eeC, to +romote harmoniou, an* Iu,t
relation,hi+ 9et/een the Bang,a Moro +eo+le an* the
Chri,tian. They allege that *ue to the 4aguene,, o6
*e6inition o6 terrori,m an* unle,, the en6orcement o6 the
,tatute i, re,traine*, their organization an* mem9er,
may 9e cla,,i6ie* a, a terrori,t organization.
F>.#etitioner Ro*inie !oriano i, ,uing in hi, +er,onal
ca+acity an* on 9ehal6 o6 the $eague o6 (ili+ino !tu*ent,
7$(!8, an a,,ociation o6 acti4i,t3,tu*ent, /hich
re+re,ent, the (ili+ino ,tu*entry in the 6ight 6or their
right,. He allege, that *ue to the 4aguene,, o6 the
*e6inition, he an* other mem9er, o6 the $(! ,tan* the
A;
imme*iate *anger o6 +ro,ecution un*er the a,,aile*
,tatute.
FB.The cau,e, o6 action 6or thi, com+laint, a, outline*
9elo/, a,,ail the encroachment o6 the la/ on the
in*i4i*ual%, zone o6 +ri4acy, the lacC o6 *ue +roce,, in the
taCing o6 li9erty an* +ro+erty, an* the 4iolation o6 the
+ri4acy o6 communication an* corre,+on*ence /ithout
*ue +roce,,. The,e 4iolation, o6 the right, en,hrine* in
Article o6 our Con,titution are, /ithout a *ou9t, o6
tran,cen*ental im+ortance /hich nee* to 9e acte* u+on
early.
=;.The Court ha, recently ,u,taine* the direct in,ury test in
*etermining #ocus standi in our Iuri,*iction. Citing
Peop#e vs. -era, )u,tice !an*o4al30utierrez ,tate* in
&a4i* 4,. Maca+agal3Arroyo that Jthe +er,on /ho
im+ugn, the 4ali*ity o6 a ,tatute mu,t ha4e a +er,onal
an* ,u9,tantial intere,t in the ca,e ,uch that he ha,
,u,taine*, or /ill ,u,tain *irect inIury a, a re,ultK
::
.
Ho/e4er, the Court /ent on to ,ay that it ha, Ja*o+te* a
rule that e4en /hen the +etitioner, ha4e 6aile* to ,ho/
*irect inIury, they ha4e 9een allo/e* to ,ue un*er the
::
&a4i* 4, Maca+agal3Arroyo. 0.R. "o. :<:@B=. May @ A;;=.
A:
+rinci+le o6 tran,cen*ental im+ortanceK
:A
. Thu,, a citizen
may 9e gi4en #ocus standi in +u9lic ,uit, +ro4i*e* that
Jthere mu,t 9e a ,ho/ing the i,,ue, rai,e* are o6
tran,cen*ental im+ortance /hich mu,t 9e ,ettle*
earlyK.
:@

=:.#etitioner, are liCe/i,e ,uing a, ta5+ayer,, ,tating that
any 6un*ing +ro4i*e* to o+erationalize the la/, 9eing
uncon,titutional, i, unla/6ul an* i, a /a,te o6 +u9lic
6un*,. Moreo4er, the la/ *oe, not ,+eaC /here the
6un*ing 6or *ay3to3*ay o+eration, o6 the Anti3Terrori,m
Council /ill come 6rom, an* +etitioner, a,,ert that it i,
their right un*er !ection < o6 the Bill o6 Right, an* a, a
ta5+ayer to Cno/ ho/ the ATC an* the ,o3calle* 2ar
again,t terror /ill 9e 6un*e*. "e4erthele,,, a, the la/ i,
uncon,titutional, ,uch 6un*, /ill liCe/i,e 9e illegally
*i,9ur,e*.
RIPENESS FOR ADJUDICATION
=A.)u,tice Regala*o, in hi, 9ooC, Remedia# .a/
0ompendium, enumerate, the 6ollo/ing reDui,ite, 6or an
action 6or *eclaratory relie6, to /it?
:A
%"id.
:@
%"id
AA
J7a8 The ,u9Iect matter o6 the contro4er,y mu,t
9e a *ee*, /ill, contract or other /ritten in,trument,
,tatute, e5ecuti4e or*er or regulation, or or*inance;
J798 The term, o6 ,ai* *ocument, an* the 4ali*ity
thereo6 are *ou9t6ul an* reDuire Iu*icial con,truction;
J7c8 There mu,t ha4e 9een no 9reach o6 the
*ocument, in Due,tion;
J7*8 There mu,t 9e an actual Iu,ticia9le
contro4er,y or the Jri+ening ,ee*,K o6 one 9et/een
+er,on, /ho,e intere,t, are a*4er,e;
J7e8 The i,,ue mu,t 9e ri+e 6or Iu*icial
*etermination; an*
J768 A*eDuate relie6 i, not a4aila9le through
other mean, or other 6orm, o6 action or +rocee*ing.K
=@.#aragra+h 7a8 +oint, to the ,u9Iect matter o6 the action.
The +re,ent +etition%, ,u9Iect matter i, Re+u9lic Act
B@<A, other/i,e Cno/n a, the Human Security Act of
2007, e,+ecially ,ection, @, <, :>, A= an* A<.
=E.#aragra+h 798 +ro4i*e, 6or the i,,ue or cau,e o6 the
action. n thi, +etition, the +ro4i,ion, o6 the a6ore,ai*
,ection,, rea* in their +ure 6orm, are o6 *ou9t6ul
con,titutionality, an* their im+lementation may lea* to
ar9itrarine,,; hence, they reDuire Iu*icial con,truction.
=F.#aragra+h 7c8 reDuire, that no *amage ha, yet 9een
*one to the one ,uing 6or *eclaratory relie6, ,ince ,uch
occurrence alrea*y gi4e, /ay to an or*inary ci4il action.
A@
==.#aragra+h 7*8 reDuire, ri+ene,, 6or Iu*icial
*etermination. A, RA B@<A i, no/ in 6ull e66ect, al9eit
a/aiting it, im+lementing rule, an* regulation,, thi,
criterion i, met. n thi, regar*, the Court *eclare* in
&p#e vs. Torres, to /it?
xxx [t]he rie!e"" #$r %&'(&i)%ti$! $# the
etiti$! %t *%r i" !$t %##e)te& *+ the #%)t th%t the
i,-e,e!ti!. r(-e" o6 A.O. "o. @;> h%/e +et t$ *e
r$,(-.%te&. #etitioner O+le a,,ail, A.O. "o. @;> a,
in4ali* +er ,e an* a, in6irme* on it, 6ace. Hi, action i,
not +remature #$r the r(-e" +et t$ *e r$,(-.%te&
)%!!$t )(re it" #%t%- &e#e)t"0 M$re$/er1 the
re"$!&e!t" the,"e-/e" h%/e "t%rte& the
i,-e,e!t%ti$! $# A0O0 N$0 234 5ith$(t 5%iti!.
#$r the r(-e"0K 7em+ha,i, ,u++lie*8
=<.#aragra+h, 7e8 an* 768 +oint to the e5hau,tion o6 any an*
all a4aila9le reme*ie, 6or a*eDuate relie6. n the ca,e
/hen a ,tatute i, in4ol4e*, the +rinci+le o6 +re,um+tion
o6 con,titutionality ,tan*,; hence, the only reme*y 6or
any Due,tion, concerning the con,titutionality o6 the la/
lie, in the )u*iciary.
=>.!ection A o6 Rule =@ o6 the Re4i,e* Rule, o6 Court ,tate,,
to /it?
JAll +er,on, /ho ha4e or claim any intere,t /hich
/oul* 9e a66ecte* 9y the *eclaration ,hall 9e ma*e
+artie, 555K
AE
=B.The *etermination o6 the 6itne,, o6 the i,,ue, 6or Iu*icial
*eci,ion, the har*,hi+ to the +artie, o6 /ithhol*ing court
con,i*eration, an* e4en the imme*iate an* ,u9,tantial
im+act u+on the re,+on*ent, o6 the im+lementation o6
the Human !ecurity Act o6 A;;< ha4e 9a,e, a, /ell on
Iuri,+ru*ence.
<;.Con,i,tent /ith the controlling *octrine e,+ou,e* in
1on(a#es v 0&2+.+0,
:E
thi, in,tant +etition i, 6ile* a6ter
the e66ecti4ity *ate o6 :F )uly A;;<. n the
a6orementione* ca,e, the +etitioner, therein /aite* 6or
the a,,aile* la/ to 9ecome e66ecti4e 9e6ore 6iling the ,uit;
to a4oi* the 4ice o6 +rematurity in their ,uit, +etitioner,
herein ,imilarly a*o+t the ,ame a++roach.
<:.n another *eci,ion, the !u+reme Court, in 3ayante# vs.
Repu"#ic, /hich /a, a +etition 6or *eclaratory relie6,
,tate* that JXaYn i,,ue i, ri+e 6or Iu*icial *etermination
5he! -iti.%ti$! i" i!e/it%*-e or /hen a*mini,trati4e
reme*ie, ha4e 9een e5hau,te*.K
:E
0onzale, 4 COME$EC, B !CRA A@; 7:B=@8.
AF
<A.&ue to the national ,co+e o6 the la/ an* it, a++lication
*e+en*ent on the authoritie, im+lementing it, any
am9iguity o6 the *e6inition or concern on the +roce*ural
a,+ect o6 the la/ coul* lea* to 9reach o6 right, o6 any
(ili+ino citizen ,u,+ecte* a, a terrori,t.
<@.The U! !u+reme Court in Poe vs. ##man,
:F
*eclare*
that J6or the Court to a*Iu*icate +etition, 6or *eclaratory
Iu*gment, on ,tate or 6e*eral la/,, there mu,t e5i,t a
Vreali,tic 6ear o6 +ro,ecution%K mu,t 9e met. n thi,
in,tant +etition, thi, reDuirement i, highly met. The
+etitioner,, citizen, o6 the country, are in*ee*
,u,ce+ti9le to +ro,ecution 6or the e66ect o6 the la/
e5ten*, to any citizen, regar*le,, o6 a66iliation. All coul*
/ell 9e un*er the *e6inition o6 terrori,t a, +ro4i*e* 9y
the la/ an* 9e ,u9Iecte* to +ro,ecution. Thi, coul* ha4e
,eriou, re+ercu,,ion, on the ci4il li9ertie, o6 the +eo+le
o6 the #hili++ine,.
<E.!u9,eDuently, the #hili++ine,, a ,taunch ally o6 the U!
glo9al /ar on terror in !outhea,t A,ia, ha, mani6e,te* it,
,u++ort o6 the cla,,i6ication o6 certain grou+, a,
terrori,t,. "o le,, than the #re,i*ent her,el6 +roclaime*
:F
#oe 4,. Ullman, @=< U.!. EB< 7:B=:8.
A=
at the three3*ay Min*anao #eace an* !ecurity !ummit at
the #ryce Hotel in Cagayan *e Oro that [i]# +$( %re %
)$,,(!i"t terr$ri"t1 5e 5i-- "t$ +$(0 I# +$( %re %
re-i.i$(" terr$ri"t1 5e 5i-- "t$ +$(0 I# +$( %re %
r$.(e e-e,e!t $# $(r $5! $-i)e $r ,i-it%r+1 5e 5i--
"t$ +$(06
:=
An* yet, *ue to the ,till un*e6ine* /or*,
Jterrori,m,K there i, ,till con6u,ion a, to /ho the
#re,i*ent i, a**re,,ing ,uch remarC,.
<F.E4en 9e6ore the e66ecti4ity o6 RA B@<A, critic, an* the
+olitical o++o,ition, a, /ell a, tho,e /ho ,im+ly earne*
the ire o6 tho,e in +o/er, ha4e 9een +ro,ecute* or ha4e
9een threatene* /ith +ro,ecution a, a re,ult o6 their
critici,m, an* +olitical leaning,. 6 +etitioner, ha4e 9een
,u9Iecte* to +ro,ecution or threat, o6 +ro,ecution +rior to
the e66ecti4ity o6 RA B@<A, then the ,ai* la/ no/ in e66ect
O/ith all it, atten*ant uncon,titutional +ro4i,ion, a,
allege* in the *i,cu,,ion that 6ollo/,Orai,e, the
+o,,i9ility o6 ine4ita9le litigation or +ro,ecution to ne/
height,.
:=
J:
,t
target,? Rogue A(#, re* terrori,t,,K #aolo Romero, The Phi#ippine
Star, -ol. ZZ, "o. @E=, 2e*ne,*ay, )uly ::, A;;<, +. :.
A<
<=.There6ore, a, ,tate*, a +etition 6or *eclaratory relie6 i,
the +ro+er an* only reme*y a4aila9le to +etitioner, in thi,
ca,e.
DISCUSSION
Se)ti$! 2 $# Re(*-i)
A)t N$0 7289 i" /$i&
#$r *ei!. /%.(e "i!)e
it &$e" !$t r$/i&e #$r
% &e#i!iti$! $#
terr$ri",60
<<.!ec. @ o6 Re+u9lic Act B@<A, or the Human Security Act
of 2007, ,tate,?
J!ec. @. Terrorism. Q Any +er,on /ho commit, an
act +uni,ha9le un*er any o6 the 6ollo/ing +ro4i,ion, o6
the Re4i,e* #enal Co*e?
a. Article :AA 7#iracy in 0eneral an* Mutiny in
the High !ea, or in the #hili++ine 2ater,8;
9. Article :@E 7Re9ellion or n,urrection8;
c. Article :@E3a 7Cou+ *%Etat8, inclu*ing act,
committe* 9y +ri4ate +er,on,;
*. Article AE> 7Mur*er8;
e. Article A=< 7Hi*na++ing an* !eriou, llegal
&etention8;
6. Article @AE 7Crime, n4ol4ing &e,truction8;
or un*er
A>
7:8 #re,i*ential &ecree "o. :=:@ 7The $a/ on
Ar,on8;
7A8 Re+u9lic Act "o. =B=B 7To5ic !u9,tance, an*
Hazar*ou, an* "uclear 2a,te Control Act o6 :BB;8;
7@8 Re+u9lic Act "o. FA;< 7Atomic Energy
Regulatory an* $ia9ility Act o6 :B=>8;
7E8 Re+u9lic Act "o. =A@F 7Anti3HighIacCing $a/8;
7F8 #re,i*ential &ecree "o. F@A 7Anti3#iracy an*
Anti3High/ay Ro99ery $a/ o6 :B<E8; an*,
7=8 #re,i*ential &ecree "o. :>==, a, amen*e*
7&ecree co*i6ying the $a/ on llegal an* Unla/6ul
#o,,e,,ion, Manu6acture, &ealing in, AcDui,ition or
&i,+o,ition o6 (irearm,, Ammunition, or E5+lo,i4e,8;
there9y ,o/ing an* creating a con*ition o6
/i*e,+rea* an* e5traor*inary 6ear an* +anic among
the +o+ulace, in or*er to coerce the go4ernment to
gi4e in to an unla/6ul *eman* ,hall 9e guilty o6 the
crime o6 terrori,m an* ,hall ,u66er the +enalty o6 6orty
7E;8 year, o6 im+ri,onment, /ithout the 9ene6it o6
+arole a, +ro4i*e* 6or un*er Act "o. E:;@, other/i,e
Cno/n a, the n*eterminate !entence $a/, a,
amen*e*.K
<>.The attem+t at *e6ining the /or* Jterrori,mK +rocee*,
6rom an enumeration o6 crime, an* 6elonie, +ro4i*e* 6or
9y the Re4i,e* #enal Co*e or ,+ecial la/, an* Duali6ie*
9y Jthere9y ,o/ing an* creating a con*ition o6
/i*e,+rea* an* e5traor*inary 6ear an* +anic among the
+o+ulace, in or*er to coerce the go4ernment to gi4e in to
an unla/6ul *eman*K.
AB
<B.t i, a /ell3,ettle* +rinci+le that a la/ Jmu,t 9e
,u66iciently e5+licit to in6orm tho,e /ho are ,u9Iect to it
/hat con*uct on their +art /ill ren*er them lia9le to it,
+enaltie, i, a /ell3 recognize* reDuirement, con,onant
aliCe /ith or*inary notion, o6 6air +lay an* the ,ettle*
rule, o6 la/; an* a ,tatute /hich either 6or9i*, or
reDuire, the *oing o6 an act in term, ,o 4ague that men
o6 common intelligence mu,t nece,,arily gue,, at it,
meaning an* *i66er a, to it, a++lication 4iolate, the 6ir,t
e,,ential o6 *ue +roce,, o6 la/.K
:<

>;.The te,t o6 /hether or not a la/ i, 4ague i, that men o6
common intelligence mu,t nece,,arily gue,, at it,
meaning an* *i66er a, to it, a++lication.
:>
A++lying once
again the *octrine ,et in the recent ca,e o6 David vs
2acapa!a#4Arroyo
'5
, a litigant may challenge a ,tatute i6
it i, 4ague in all it, a++lication,.
>:.E4en though terrori,m ha, 9een a common term in the
+a,t ,e4eral year,, no *e6inition ha, 9een +ut 6orth to
/hich maIority o6 the authoritie, ha4e agree*. n the
language u,e* 9y the Court in David vs. 2acapa!a#4
Arroyo, the +hra,e Jact, o6 terrori,mK i, ,till an
:<
Connally 4 0eneral Con,truction Co01 A=B U.!. @>F.
:>
Ermita3Malate Hotel an* Motel O+erator, A,,ociation 4 City Mayor. A;
!CRA >EB.
:B
&a4i* 4,. Arroyo, 0.R. "o. :<:@B=
@;
amor+hou, an* 4ague conce+t. The e5tent o6 thi,
4aguene,, can 9e gleane* 6rom the comment in the ,ame
*eci,ion, /hich *e,er4e, to 9e Duote* in 6ull?
Jn 6act, thi, J*e6initional +re*icamentK or the
Ja9,ence o6 an agree* *e6inition o6 terrori,mK
con6ront, not only our country, 9ut the international
community a, /ell. The 6ollo/ing o9,er4ation, are
Duite a+ro+o,?
Jn the actual uni+olar conte5t o6
international relation,, the J6ight again,t
terrori,mK ha, 9ecome one o6 the 9a,ic ,logan,
/hen it come, to the Iu,ti6ication o6 the u,e o6
6orce again,t certain ,tate, an* again,t grou+,
o+erating internationally. $i,t, o6 ,tate,
J,+on,oring terrori,mK an* o6 terrori,t
organization, are ,et u+ an* con,tantly 9eing
u+*ate* accor*ing to criteria that are not
al/ay, Cno/n to the +u9lic, 9ut are clearly
*etermine* 9y ,trategic intere,t,.
JThe 9a,ic +ro9lem un*erlying all the,e
military action, Q or threat, o6 the u,e o6 6orce
a, the mo,t recent 9y the Unite* !tate, again,t
raD Q con,i,t, in the a9,ence o6 an agree*
*e6inition o6 terrori,m.
JRemarCa9le con6u,ion +er,i,t, in regar*
to the legal categorization o6 act, o6 4iolence
either 9y ,tate,, 9y arme* grou+, ,uch a,
li9eration mo4ement,, or 9y in*i4i*ual,.
JThe *ilemma can 9y ,ummarize* in the
,aying JOne country%, terrori,t i, another
country%, 6ree*om 6ighter.K The a++arent
contra*iction or lacC o6 con,i,tency in the u,e o6
the term Jterrori,mK may 6urther 9e
*emon,trate* 9y the hi,torical 6act that lea*er,
o6 national li9eration mo4ement, ,uch a, "el,on
Man*ela in !outh A6rica, Ha9i9 Bourgoui9a in
Tuni,ia, or Ahme* Ben Bella in Algeria, to
mention only a 6e/, /ere originally la9ele* a,
terrori,t, 9y tho,e /ho controlle* the territory
at the time, 9ut later 9ecame internationally
re,+ecte* ,tate,men.
J2hat, then, i, the *e6ining criterion 6or
terrori,t act, Q the differentia specifica
@:
*i,tingui,hing tho,e act, 6rom e4entually
legitimate act, o6 national re,i,tance or ,el63
*e6en,eS
J!ince the time, o6 the Col* 2ar the
Unite* "ation, Organization ha, 9een trying in
4ain to reach a con,en,u, on the 9a,ic i,,ue o6
*e6inition. The organization ha, inten,i6ie* it,
e66ort, recently, 9ut ha, 9een una9le to 9ri*ge
the ga+ 9et/een tho,e /ho a,,ociate
Jterrori,mK /ith any 4iolent act 9y non3,tate
grou+, again,t ci4ilian,, ,tate 6unctionarie, or
in6ra,tructure or military in,tallation,, an*
tho,e /ho 9elie4e in the conce+t o6 the
legitimate u,e o6 6orce /hen re,i,tance again,t
6oreign occu+ation or again,t ,y,tematic
o++re,,ion o6 ethnic an*Mor religiou, grou+,
/ithin a ,tate i, concerne*.
JThe *ilemma 6acing the international
community can 9e,t 9e illu,trate* 9y re6erence
to the contra*icting categorization o6
organization, an* mo4ement, ,uch a, #ale,tine
$i9eration Organization 7#$O8 Q /hich i, a
terrori,t grou+ 6or ,rael an* a li9eration
mo4ement 6or Ara9, an* Mu,lim, Q the
Ha,hmiri re,i,tance grou+, Q /ho are terrori,t,
in the +erce+tion o6 n*ia, li9eration 6ighter, in
that o6 #aCi,tan Q the earlier Contra, in
"icaragua Q 6ree*om 6ighter, 6or the Unite*
!tate,, terrori,t, 6or the !ociali,t cam+ Q or,
mo,t *ra,tically, the A6ghani MuIahe*een 7later
to 9ecome the Tali9an mo4ement8? *uring the
Col* 2ar +erio* they /ere a grou+ o6 6ree*om
6ighter, 6or the 2e,t, nurture* 9y the Unite*
!tate,, an* a terrori,t gang 6or the !o4iet
Union. One coul* go on an* on in enumerating
e5am+le, o6 con6licting categorization, that
cannot 9e reconcile* in any /ay Q 9ecau,e o6
o++o,ing +olitical intere,t, that are at the root,
o6 tho,e +erce+tion,.
JHo/, then, can tho,e contra*icting
*e6inition, an* con6licting +erce+tion, an*
e4aluation, o6 one an* the ,ame grou+ an* it,
action, 9e e5+laine*S n our analy,i,, the 9a,ic
rea,on 6or the,e ,triCing incon,i,tencie, lie, in
the *i4ergent intere,t o6 ,tate,. &e+en*ing on
/hether a ,tate i, in the +o,ition o6 an
occu+ying +o/er or in that o6 a ri4al, or
a*4er,ary, o6 an occu+ying +o/er in a gi4en
territory, the *e6inition o6 terrori,m /ill
@A
J6luctuateK accor*ingly. A ,tate may e4entually
,ee it,el6 a, +rotector o6 the right, o6 a certain
ethnic grou+ out,i*e it, territory an* /ill
there6ore ,+eaC o6 a Jli9eration ,truggle,K not o6
Jterrori,mK /hen act, o6 4iolence 9y thi, grou+
are concerne*, an* 4ice34er,a.
JThe Unite* "ation, Organization ha,
9een una9le to reach a *eci,ion on the
*e6inition o6 terrori,m e5actly 9ecau,e o6 the,e
con6licting intere,t, o6 ,o4ereign ,tate, that
*etermine in each an* e4ery in,tance ho/ a
+articular arme* mo4ement 7i.e. a non3,tate
actor8 i, la9ele* in regar* to the terrori,t,3
6ree*om 6ighter *ichotomy. A J+olicy o6 *ou9le
,tan*ar*,K on thi, 4ital i,,ue o6 international
a66air, ha, 9een the una4oi*a9le con,eDuence.
JThi, J*e6initional +re*icamentK o6 an
organization con,i,ting o6 ,o4ereign ,tate, Q an*
not o6 +eo+le,, in ,+ite o6 the em+ha,i, in the
#ream9le to the Unite* "ation, Charter[ Q ha,
9ecome e4en more ,eriou, in the +re,ent glo9al
+o/er con,tellation? one ,u+er+o/er e5erci,e,
the *eci,i4e role in the !ecurity Council, 6ormer
great +o/er, o6 the Col* 2ar era a, /ell a,
me*ium +o/er, are increa,ingly 9eing
marginalize*; an* the +ro9lem ha, 9ecome e4en
more acute ,ince the terrori,t attacC, o6 ::
!e+tem9er A;;: the Unite* !tate,.
JThe a9,ence o6 a la/ *e6ining Jact, o6 terrori,mK
may re,ult in a9u,e an* o++re,,ion on the +art o6 the
+olice or military. An illu,tration i, /hen a grou+ o6
+er,on, are merely engage* in a *rinCing ,+ree. 1et
the military or the +olice may con,i*er the act a, an
act o6 terrori,m an* imme*iately arre,t them 5 5 5 .
O94iou,ly, thi, i, a9u,e an* o++re,,ion on their +art.
t mu,t 9e remem9ere* that an act can only 9e
con,i*ere* a crime i6 there i, a la/ *e6ining the ,ame
a, ,uch an* im+o,ing the corre,+on*ing +enalty
thereon.K
A;
7citation omitte*8
>A.n a hal63hearte* attem+t at *e6ining Jterrori,mK, the
legi,lature merely enumerate* act, alrea*y +uni,ha9le
un*er the Re4i,e* #enal Co*e, an* merely a**e* the
A;
&a4i* 4,. Maca+agal Arroyo, i"id.
@@
+hra,e Jthere9y ,o/ing an* creating a con*ition o6
/i*e,+rea* an* e5traor*inary 6ear an* +anic among the
+o+ulace, in or*er to coerce the go4ernment to gi4e in to
an unla/6ul *eman*K. Thi, attem+t at *e6ining the
alrea*y 4ague term o6 terrori,m only a**e* con6u,ion
/ith 4ague /or*, an* +hra,e, liCe J/i*e,+rea*K,
Je5traor*inaryK, J6earK, J+anicK, an* Junla/6ul *eman*K.
#etitioner, conten* that thi, 6ee9le attem+t at *e6ining
terrori,m only gi4e, the military, +olice, an* other
9ranche, o6 the e5ecuti4e un9ri*le* *i,cretion in
*e,cri9ing certain act, a, Jact, o6 terrori,mK /ithout
gi4ing the +eo+le the 6ainte,t i*ea o6 /hat act, ,houl* 9e
a4oi*e* in or*er to e4a*e +er,ecution 6or terrori,m.
>@.!ec. @ *oe, not +ro4i*e com+lete an* ,u66icient
,tan*ar*, to gui*e the authoritie, in *ealing /ith an
accu,e* allege* to ha4e committe* the o66en,e. n
+strada v. Sandi!an"ayan
2'
citing Peop#e v. )a(ario, the
!u+reme Court ,ai*?
JA ,tatute or act may 9e ,ai* to 9e 4ague /hen it
lacC, com+rehen,i9le ,tan*ar*, that men o6 common
intelligence mu,t nece,,arily gue,, at it, meaning an*
*i66er in it, a++lication. n ,uch in,tance, the ,tatute i,
re+ugnant to the Con,titution in t/o re,+ect,?
a8 it /i$-%te" &(e r$)e"" #$r #%i-(re t$ %))$r&
er"$!"1 e"e)i%--+ the %rtie" t%r.ete& *+ it1 #%ir
!$ti)e $# 5h%t )$!&()t t$ %/$i&; an*
A:
E,tra*a 4,. !an*igan9ayan, 0.R. "o. :E>F=;, "o4em9er :B, A;;:
@E
98 it -e%/e" -%5 e!#$r)er" (!*ri&-e&
&i")reti$! i! )%rr+i!. $(t it" r$/i"i$!" %!&
*e)$,e" %! %r*itr%r+ #-exi!. $# the G$/er!,e!t
,(")-e.K 7em+ha,i, ,u++lie*8
>E.&ue to thi,, there e5i,t, a *anger o6 +ro,ecution to
+etitioner, an* to any citizen o6 the country /ho may 9e
9ran*e* a, a terrori,t. The ar9itrarine,, /hich
un6ortunately rocC, our 9ureaucracy +o,e, a real threat
to all citizen,.
Se)ti$! 8 $# RA 7289
/i$-%te" the Ri.ht t$
Pri/%)+ $#
C$,,(!i)%ti$! %!&
D(e Pr$)e""
>F.!ec. < o6 Ra B@<A +ro4i*e,?
J!ec. <. Survei##ance of Suspects and %nterception and
Recordin! of 0ommunications. Q The +ro4i,ion, o6 Re+u9lic Act
"o. EA;; 7Anti3/ire Ta++ing $a/8 to the contrary
not/ith,tan*ing, a +olice or la/ en6orcement o66icial an* the
mem9er, o6 hi, team may, u+on a /ritten or*er o6 the Court o6
A++eal,, li,ten to, interce+t an* recor*, /ith the u,e o6 any
mo*e, 6orm, Cin* or ty+e o6 electronic or other ,ur4eillance
eDui+ment or interce+ting an* tracCing *e4ice,, or /ith the u,e
o6 any other ,uita9le /ay, an* mean, 6or that +ur+o,e, any
communication, me,,age, con4er,ation, *i,cu,,ion, or ,+oCen
or /ritten /or*, 9et/een mem9er, o6 a Iu*icially *eclare* an*
outla/e* terrori,t organization, a,,ociation, or grou+ o6 +er,on,
or o6 any +er,on charge* /ith or ,u,+ecte* o6 the crime o6
terrori,m or con,+iracy to commit terrori,m.
J#ro4i*e*, That ,ur4eillance, interce+tion an* recor*ing
o6 communication, 9et/een la/yer, an* client,, *octor, an*
+atient,, Iournali,t, an* their ,ource, an* con6i*ential 9u,ine,,
corre,+on*ence ,hall not 9e authorize*.K
@F
Thi, i, clearly 4iolati4e o6 the con,titutionally guarantee* right to
+ri4acy o6 communication?
J!ec. @. The +ri4acy o6 communication an*
corre,+on*ence ,hall 9e in4iola9le e5ce+t u+on la/6ul
or*er o6 the court, or /hen +u9lic ,a6ety or or*er
reDuire, other/i,e, a, +re,cri9e* 9y la/.
JAny e4i*ence o9taine* in 4iolation o6 thi, or the
+rece*ing ,ection ,hall 9e ina*mi,,i9le 6or any
+ur+o,e in any +rocee*ing.K
>=.Moreo4er, +etitioner (r. )oe &izon a4er, that hi, right,
a, a +rie,t a, /ell a, tho,e o6 hi, +enitent, ,tan* to 9e
4iolate* ,ince +rie,t3+enitent relation,hi+, are not
inclu*e* in the e5clu,ion,, maCing con6e,,ion, ma*e to
+rie,t, uncon*itionally ,u,ce+ti9le to !ection < o6 the
Human !ecurity Act o6 A;;<.
><.The a9o4ementione* ,ection al,o 4iolate, *ue +roce,,.
t i, clear that intru,ion i, allo/a9le u+on an or*er o6 the
court or /hen +u9lic ,a6ety or or*er reDuire, other/i,e,
a, +re,cri9e* 9y la/. But i6 the intru,ion i, to 9e *one
through /ireta+, J6or any communication, me,,age,
con4er,ation, *i,cu,,ion, or ,+oCen or /ritten /or*,
9et/een mem9er, o6 a Iu*icially *eclare* an* outla/e*
terrori,t organization, a,,ociation, or grou+ o6 +er,on, or
o6 any +er,on char!ed /ith or suspected of the crime of
terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorismK /hen a
@=
*e6inition o6 terrori,m i, /anting, it maCe, the +ro4i,ion
a++lica9le to Iu,t any +er,on.
>>.Moreo4er, thi, +ro4i,ion allo/, 4iolation, o6 the +ri4acy
o6 communication o6 +eo+le on mere suspicion of
conspiracy to commit terrori,m. "ot once in the hi,tory
o6 /orl* Iuri,+ru*ence ha, there 9een a +enalty 6or mere
suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime. The rea,on i,
4ery clear? con,+iracy, a, a ,tate o6 min*, can only 9e
+ro4en /hen there /a, an %.ree,e!t 9et/een t/o or
more +er,on, to commit a certain crime an* therea6ter
&e)i&e to commit it. Being a mental act that /oul* only
9ecome mani6e,t. Being a ,tate o6 min*, the 9ur*en to
+ro4e that there /a, con,+iracy lie, hea4ily in the
+ro,ecution. !ec. < o6 RA B@<A attem+t, to remo4e thi,
hea4y 9ur*en 9y inclu*ing +er,on, Jsuspected of 5 5 5
conspiracy to commit terrorism6 together /ith +er,on,
charge* /ith terrori,m. The inclu,ion o6 ,uch +er,on,
,u,+ecte* o6 con,+iracy to commit terrori,m in ,e4eral
+ro4i,ion, o6 RA B@<A i, 4iolati4e o6 *ue +roce,, an*
there6ore, uncon,titutional.
@<
Se)ti$! :4 $# RA 7289
i" /i$-%ti/e $# the D(e
Pr$)e"" C-%("e
>B.The /hole !ec. :> o6 RA B@<A ,macC, o6 4iolation, to the
Bill o6 Right,. The 6ir,t +aragra+h thereo6 ,tate,, to /it?
J!ec. :>. Period of Detention 7ithout 8udicia#
7arrant of Arrest. Q The +ro4i,ion, o6 Article :AF o6 the
Re4i,e* #enal Co*e to the contrary not/ith,tan*ing,
any +olice or la/ en6orcement +er,onnel, /ho ha4ing
9een *uly authorize* in /riting 9y the Anti3Terrori,m
Council ha, taCen cu,to*y o6 a +er,on charge* /ith or
,u,+ecte* o6 the crime o6 terrori,m or the crime o6
con,+iracy to commit terrori,m ,hall, /ithout incurring
any criminal lia9ility 6or *elay in the *eli4ery o6
charge* or ,u,+ecte* +er,on to the +ro+er Iu*icial
authority /ithin a +erio* o6 three *ay, counte* 6rom
the moment the ,ai* charge* or ,u,+ecte* +er,on ha,
9een a++rehen*e* or arre,te*, *etaine*, an* taCen
into cu,to*y 9y the ,ai* +olice, or la/ en6orcement
+er,onnel? Provided, That the arre,t o6 tho,e ,u,+ecte*
o6 the crime o6 terrori,m or con,+iracy mu,t re,ult
6rom the ,ur4eillance 555.K
B;.!ec.:>. Period of detention /ithout ,udicia# /arrant of
arrest 4iolate, !ec. AA o6 Article o6 the :B><
Con,titution /hich +ro4i*e,, to /it?
N$ ex post facto law $r *i-- $# %tt%i!&er "h%--
*e e!%)te&6 7em+ha,i, ,u++lie*8
B:.)oaDuin Berna,, !.)., in hi, 9ooC, The '597 0onsitution of
the Repu"#ic of the Phi#ippines: A 0ommentary, mention,
that !ec. AA o6 the Bill o6 Right, can 9e a++lie* to
@>
criminal +roce*ural la/ +reIu*icial to the accu,e*.
AA
Clearly, 9y changing the *uration o6 cu,to*y, the la/ ha,
+reIu*ice* the accu,e*. Thi, /ill allo/ the +olice or the
military un/arrante* acce,, to the ,u,+ect, there9y
increa,ing their e5+o,ure to torture an* intimi*ation
*uring the cour,e o6 the in4e,tigation.
BA.The act, o6 terrori,m a, enumerate* un*er !ec. @ o6 RA
B@<A are act, +uni,ha9le un*er the e5i,ting R#C. t ha,
re+eale*, in e66ect, Art. :AF o6 the R#C in relation to the
6elonie, *e,cri9e* a, terrori,m a, the +ro4i,ion /oul*
not 9e ma*e to a++ly to *etaine* +er,on, un*er thi, Act.
B@.Un*er Art :AF, 6or crime, or o66en,e, +uni,ha9le 9y
ca+ital +enaltie,, the +u9lic o66icer or em+loyee /ho
*etain,, on legal groun*, an accu,e* 6or more than @=
hour, /oul* 9e lia9le 6or a 6elony. Un*er RA B@<A, the
+olice or la/ en6orcement o66icer i, allo/e* to *etain 6or
a ma5imum num9er o6 three *ay,, a +er,on he ha,
+re4iou,ly arre,te* /ithout a /arrant. The ma5imum
length o6 /arrantle,, arre,t an* *etention i, al,o ma*e
AA
)oaDuin Berna,, !.)., The '597 0onsitution of the Repu"#ic of the
Phi#ippines: A 0ommentary, 7Quezon City? Re5 #rinting Com+nay, nc., A;;@8, +.
=;; citing MeCin 4. 2ol6e, A #hil. <E, <> 7:B;@8; U! 4. )ue4e,, A@ #hil. :;;, :;F
7:B:A8; Roman Cath. Bi,ho+ o6 $i+a 4. Munici+ality o6 Taal, @> #hil. @=< 7:B:>8;
#ro4ince o6 Camarine, !ur 4. &irector o6 $an*,, =E #hil. =;;7:B@<8; Ong,iaCo 4.
0am9oa, >= #hil. F;, FE 7:BF;8; Tolentino 4. Angele,, BB #hil. @;B, @:> 7:BF=8;
#hil. "ational BanC 4. Ru+erto , 0.R. "o. $3:@<<<, )une @;, :B=;; !nato, 4.
!ecretary o6 #u9lic 2orC, an* Communication,, 0.R. "o. $3:=;EB, March :>,
:B=<.
@B
a++lica9le to a +er,on "("e)te& #$r committing a
con,+iracy to commit any o6 the act, o6 terrori,m, /hich
i, not originally +uni,he* un*er the R#C. The ,ai*
article ,tate,, to /it?
JArt. :AF. De#ay in the de#ivery of detained
persons to the proper ,udicia# authorities. O The
+enaltie, +ro4i*e* in the ne5t +rece*ing article ,hall
9e im+o,e* u+on the +u9lic o66icer or em+loyee /ho
,hall *etain any +er,on 6or ,ome legal groun* an*
,hall 6ail to *eli4er ,uch +er,on to the +ro+er Iu*icial
authoritie, /ithin the +erio* o6; t5e-/e ;:9< h$(r",
6or crime, or o66en,e, +uni,ha9le 9y light +enaltie,, or
their eDui4alent; ei.htee! ;:4< h$(r", 6or crime, or
o66en,e, +uni,ha9le 9y correctional +enaltie,, or their
eDui4alent an* thirty3,i5 ;2=< h$(r", 6or crime,, or
o66en,e, +uni,ha9le 9y a66licti4e or ca+ital +enaltie,,
or their eDui4alent. n e4ery ca,e, the +er,on *etaine*
,hall 9e in6orme* o6 the cau,e o6 hi, *etention an*
,hall 9e allo/e* u+on hi, reDue,t, to communicate an*
con6er at any time /ith hi, attorney or coun,el. 7A,
amen*e* 9y E.O. "o,. FB an* A<A, "o4. <, :B>= an*
)uly AF, :B><, re,+ecti4ely8.K
BE.t al,o 4iolate, !ec. A, Article o6 the :B>< Con,titution
/hich ,tate,?
J!ec. A. 5 5 5 %&$t" the .e!er%--+ %))ete&
ri!)i-e" $# i!ter!%ti$!%- -%5 a, +art o6 the la/ o6
the lan* an* a*here, to the +olicy o6 +eace, eDuality,
Iu,tice, 6re*om 5 5 5.K 7em+ha,i, ,u++lie*8
BF.A, a ,ignatory o6 the Unite* "ation,% U!i/er"%-
De)-%r%ti$! $# H(,%! Ri.ht" /hich /a, a++ro4e* 9y
the 0eneral A,,em9ly o6 the Unite* "ation, o6 /hich the
#hili++ine, i, a mem9er at it, +lenary meeting on
E;
&ecem9er :;, :BE> /here Jthe ri.ht t$ -i#e %!& -i*ert+
%!& %-- $ther #(!&%,e!t%- ri.ht" %" %-ie& t$ %--
h(,%! *ei!."6 /ere +roclaime*1 the #hili++ine, ha, a
*uty to u+hol* the,e +rinci+le, 6or they are, a6ter all,
Ja*o+te* a, +art o6 the la/ o6 the lan*.K
B=.(urhtermore, the U&HR +ro4i*e, that?
JArticle :.All human 9eing, are 9orn 6ree an*
eDual in *egree an* right,;
JArticle A.E4eryone i, entitle* to all the right, an*
6ree*om ,et 6orth in thi, &eclaration /ithout *i,tinction
o6 any Cin*, ,uch a, race, colour, ,e5, language,
religion, +olitical or other o+inion, nationality or ,ocial
origin, +ro+erty, 9irth, or other ,tatu,;
555 555 555
JArticle >.E4eryone ha, the right to an e66ecti4e
reme*y 9y the com+etent national tri9unal, 6or act,
4iolating the 6un*amental right, grante* him 9y the
Con,titution or 9y la/;
JArticle B."o one ,hall 9e ,u9Iecte* to ar9itrary
arre,t, *etention or e5ileK 7em+ha,i, ,u++lie*8
B<.!ec. :> o6 RA B@<A al,o 4iolate, !ec. :, Article o6 the
:B>< Con,titution ,tating?
J"o +er,on ,hall 9e *e+ri4e* o6 li6e, li9erty, or
+ro+erty /ithout *ue +roce,, o6 la/, nor ,hall any
+er,on 9e *enie* the eDual +rotection o6 la/,K
B>.n 4ie/ o6 !ec. A, Article o6 the Con,titution, the rule
i, that no arre,t may 9e ma*e e5ce+t 9y 4irtue o6 a
E:
/arrant i,,ue* 9y a Iu*ge a6ter e5amining the
com+lainant an* the /itne,,e, he may +ro*uce an* a6ter
6in*ing +ro9a9le cau,e to 9elie4e that the +er,on to 9e
arre,te* ha, committe* the crime. The ex)eti$!"
/hen an arre,t may 9e ma*e e4en /ithout a /arrant are
+ro4i*e* in R(-e ::21 Se)0 > $# the R(-e" $# Cri,i!%-
Pr$)e&(re 5hi)h re%&"?
7a8 2hen, in hi, +re,ence, the +er,on to 9e arre,te*
ha, committe*, i, actually committing, or i,
attem+ting to commit an o66en,e;
798 2hen an o66en,e ha, in 6act Iu,t 9een committe*,
an* he ha, +er,onal Cno/le*ge o6 the 6act,
in*icating that the +er,on to 9e arre,te* ha,
committe* it;
7c8 2hen the +er,on to 9e arre,te* i, a +ri,oner /ho
ha, e,ca+e* 6rom a +enal e,ta9li,hment or +lace
/here he i, ,er4ing 6inal Iu*gment or tem+orarily
con6ine* /hile hi, ca,e i, +en*ing, or ha, e,ca+e*
/hile 9eing tran,6erre* 6rom one con6inement to
another.
BB.Ho/e4er, in RA B@<A, no +ro9a9le cau,e i, nee*e* to 9e
*etermine* 9y the Iu*ge. The Iu*icial *etermination 9y
the +olice or la/ en6orcement o66icer, /ho /ill maCe the
arre,t, i, 9a,e* on or mu,t re,ult 6rom the ,ur4eillance
un*er !ec < 7recor*ing o6 communication,8 an* !ec A< o6
the Act 7e5amination o6 9anC *e+o,it,8. Court
authorization i, nee*e* 6or the con*uct o6 ,ur4eillance
9ut not 6or the arre,t, to 9e ma*e.
EA
:;;.Moreo4er, RA B@<A 4iolate, the nternational Co4enant
on Ci4il an* #olitical Right, 7hereina6ter cite* a, CC#R8.
The U" 0eneral A,,em9ly a*o+te* the CC#R on
&ecem9er :=, :B==. The #hili++ine, ,igne* the
con4ention on &ecem9er :B, :B== 9ut rati6ie* it only on
Octo9er A@, :B>=. I!ter!%ti$!%- C$/e!%!t #$r Ci/i-
%!& P$-iti)%- Ri.ht" ;ICCPR< contain, the +rotection
o6 a citizen7,8 6rom illegalMar9itrary arre,t, +rolonge*
*etention, torture an* court *elay. The #hili++ine
go4ernment i, a ,tate +arty to the CC#R. t i, +ro4i*e*
in Article B therein, to /it?
:. E4eryone ha, the right to li9erty an* ,ecurity
o6 +er,on. "o one ,hall 9e ,u9Iecte* to ar9itrary arre,t
or *etention. "o one ,hall 9e *e+ri4e* o6 hi, li9erty
e5ce+t on ,uch groun*, an* in accor*ance /ith ,uch
+roce*ure, a, are e,ta9li,he* 9y la/.
A. Anyone /ho i, arre,te* ,hall 9e in6orme*, at
the time o6 arre,t, o6 the rea,on, 6or hi,
arre,t an* ,hall 9e +rom+tly in6orme* o6 any
charge, again,t him;
@. Anyone arre,te* or *etaine* in a criminal
charge ,hall 9e 9rought +rom+tly 9e6ore a
Iu*ge or other o66icer authorize* 9y la/ to
e5erci,e Iu*icial +o/er an* ,hall 9e entitle*
to trial /ithin rea,ona9le time or to relea,e.
E. Anyone /ho /a, *e+ri4e* o6 hi, li9erty 9y
arre,t or *etention ,hall 9e entitle* to taCe
+rocee*ing, 9e6ore a court, in or*er that
,uch court may *eci*e /ithout *elay on the
la/6ulne,, o6 hi, *etention an* or*er hi,
relea,e i6 the *etention i, not la/6ul.
E@
F. Anyone /ho ha, 9een a 4ictim o6 unla/6ul
arre,t or *etention ,hall ha4e an en6orcea9le
right to com+en,ation.
:;:.n relation to thi,, in the ca,e, Ro!er Posadas et. a#., vs
The Hon. &m"udsman,
2;
the Court *eclare*, to /it?
JThe *etermination o6 the e5i,tence o6 +ro9a9le
cau,e that the +er,on, to 9e arre,te* committe* the
crime /a, 6or the Iu*ge to maCe. The la/ authorize, a
+olice o66icer or e4en an or*inary citizen to arre,t
criminal o66en*er, only i6 the latter are committing or
ha4e Iu,t committe* a crime. Other/i,e, /e cannot
lea4e to the +olice o66icer, the *etermination o6 /hom
to a++rehen* i6 /e are to +rotect our ci4il li9ertie,.
Thi, i, e4i*ent 6rom a con,i*eration o6 the
reDuirement, 9e6ore a Iu*ge can or*er the arre,t o6
,u,+ect,. Art. , \A o6 the Con,titution +ro4i*e,?
JThe right o6 the +eo+le to 9e ,ecure in their
+er,on,, hou,e,, +a+er,, an* e66ect, again,t
unrea,ona9le ,earche, an* ,eizure, o6 /hate4er
nature an* 6or any +ur+o,e ,hall 9e in4iola9le, an* no
,earch /arrant or /arrant o6 arre,t ,hall i,,ue e5ce+t
u+on +ro9a9le cau,e to 9e *etermine* +er,onally 9y
the Iu*ge a6ter e5amination un*er oath or a66irmation
o6 the com+lainant an* the /itne,,e, he may +ro*uce,
an* +articularly *e,cri9ing the +lace to 9e ,earche*
an* the +er,on, or thing, to 9e ,eize*.K
AE
Se)ti$! 9= $# RA 7289
/i$-%te" the Ri.ht $#
the Pe$-e t$ Tr%/e-
:;A.!ection A= o6 RA B@<A +ro4i*e,?
!ec. A=. Restriction on Trave# Q n ca,e, 5here
e/i&e!)e $# .(i-t i" !$t "tr$!., an* the +er,on
A@
Roger #o,a*a, et. al., 4, The Hon. Om9u*,man, 0.R. "o. :@:EBA
!e+tem9er AB, A;;;.
AE
%"id.
EE
charge* /ith the crime o6 terrori,m or con,+iracy to
commit terrori,m i, entitle* to 9ail an* grante* the
,ame, the court, u+on a++lication 9y the +ro,ecutor,
,hall limit the right o6 tra4el o6 the accu,e* to /ithin
the munici+ality or city /here he re,i*e, or /here the
ca,e i, +en*ing, in the intere,t o6 national ,ecurity an*
+u9lic ,a6ety, con,i,tent /ith Article , !ection = o6
the Con,titution. Tra4el out,i*e o6 ,ai* munici+ality or
city, /ithout the authorization o6 the court, ,hall 9e
*eeme* a 4iolation o6 the term, an* con*ition, o6 hi,
9ail, /hich ,hall then 9e 6or6eite* a, +ro4i*e* un*er
the Rule, o6 Court.
HeM,he may al,o 9e +lace* un*er hou,e arre,t, 9y
or*er o6 the court at hi, or her u,ual +lace o6
re,i*ence.
5 5 5 7em+ha,i, ,u++lie*8
:;@.Thi, +ro4i,ion clearly 4iolate, !ection =, Article o6
the Con,titution, /hich +ro4i*e, 6or an in4iola9le right o6
the +eo+le to tra4el ,hall not 9e im+aire* e5ce+t in the
intere,t o6 national ,ecurity, +u9lic ,a6ety, or +u9lic
health, a, may 9e +ro4i*e* 9y la/. m+o,ing a re,triction
on +eo+le charge* /ith terrori,m or con,+iracy to
commit terrori,m /hen e4i*ence o6 guilt i, not ,trong
*oe, not 6all un*er the e5ce+tion +ro4i*e* 6or in the Bill
o6 Right,. The inclu,ion o6 the +hra,e Jin the intere,t o6
national ,ecurity an* +u9lic ,a6ety, con,i,tent /ith
Article , !ection = o6 the Con,titutionK in !ec. A= i, 9ut
a mere ,u+er6luity, in4oCing the e5ce+tion +ro4i*e* in
,ai* Con,titutional +ro4i,ion /ithout ,tating the rea,on
/hy ,uch +er,on, charge*, /hen e4i*ence o6 guilt i,
EF
"OT ,trong, 6all un*er the e5ce+tion. n any ca,e, it i,
9eyon* logic an* rea,on to ,ay that a +er,on /ho,e
e4i*ence o6 guilt i, not ,trong can 9e the ,u9Iect o6 the
!tate%, intere,t o6 national ,ecurity, +u9lic ,a6ety, or
+u9lic health.
:;E.Thi, gra4e 4iolation o6 !ec. = Art. o6 the Con,titution
mu,t not e,ca+e the ,crutiny o6 the Court,. The i,,ue i,
o6 tran,cen*ental im+ortance an* +etitioner, in4oCe
their right a, citizen, in ,eeCing the nullity o6 the ,ai*
!ection A= o6 RA B@<A.
Se)ti$! 98 $# RA 7289
i" /i$-%ti/e $# Se)ti$!
91 Arti)-e III $# the
C$!"tit(ti$!
:;F.!ection A< i, in 4iolation o6 right to +ro+erty an* the
right again,t unrea,ona9le ,earch an* ,eizure ina,much
a, it *i* not ,+eci6y the tran,action, an* the +erio* the
*e+o,it,, account, an* recor*, to 9e 4ie/e*. t i, a
9lanCet authority to o+en ,ai* account,. t ,tate,, to /it?
!ec. A80 8udicia# Authori(ation Re$uired to
+<amine 3an= Deposits, Accounts, and Records. Q The
+ro4i,ion, o6 Re+u9lic Act "o. :E;F a, amen*e*, to the
contrary not/ith,tan*ing, the Iu,tice, o6 the C$(rt $#
Ae%-" *e,ignate* a, a ,+ecial court to han*le anti3
E=
terrori,m ca,e, a6ter ,ati,6ying them,el4e, o6 the
e5i,tence o6 +ro9a9le cau,e in a hearing calle* 6or that
+ur+o,e that 7:8 a er"$! )h%r.e& /ith or "("e)te&
$# the )ri,e $# terr$ri", $r )$!"ir%)+ t$ )$,,it
terr$ri",, 7A8 o6 a Iu*icially *eclare* an* outla/e*
terrori,t organization, a,,ociation, or grou+ o6 +er,on,,
an* 7@8 o6 a mem9er o6 ,uch Iu*icially *eclare* an*
outla/e* organization, a,,ociation, or grou+ o6
+er,on,, ,%+ %(th$ri@e i! 5riti!. %!+ $-i)e $r -%5
e!#$r)e,e!t $##i)er %!& the ,e,*er" $# hi"Aher
te%, &(-+ %(th$ri@e& i! 5riti!. *+ the %!tiB
terr$ri", )$(!)i- t$? ;%< ex%,i!e1 $r )%("e the
ex%,i!%ti$! $#1 the &e$"it"1 -%)e,e!t"1 tr("t
%))$(!t"1 %""et" %!& re)$r&" i! % *%!C $r
#i!%!)i%- i!"tit(ti$!D %!& ;*< .%ther $r )%("e the
.%theri!. $# %!+ re-e/%!t i!#$r,%ti$! %*$(t "()h
&e$"it"1 -%)e,e!t"1 tr("t %))$(!t"1 %""et"1 %!&
re)$r&" #r$, % *%!C $r #i!%!)i%- i!"tit(ti$!0 The
*%!C $r #i!%!)i%- i!"tit(ti$! )$!)er!e& "h%-- !$t
re#("e t$ %--$5 "()h ex%,i!%ti$! $r t$ r$/i&e the
&e"ire& i!#$r,%ti$!1 5he! "$ $r&ere& *+ %!&
"er/e& 5ith the 5ritte! $r&er $# the C$(rt $#
Ae%-"0 7em+ha,i, ,u++lie*8
:;=.2hile no mention o6 the /or*, J,earch an* ,eizureK
can 9e rea* 6rom the a9o4e ,ection, ,uch e5amination
an* gathering, o6 *e+o,it,, +lacement,, tru,t account,,
a,,et,, an* recor*, o6 +er,on, charge* or ,u,+ecte* o6
the crime o6 terrori,m or con,+iracy to commit terrori,m
,till 6all un*er the term J,earch an* ,eizureK mentione*
in the Con,titution.
:;<.Thi, +ro4i,ion 4iolate, !ec. A Art o6 the Con,titution,
/hich ,trictly +ro4i*e, 6or +roce*ure, to 6ollo/ in ca,e,
o6 ,earch an* ,eizure. Rele4ant to the +rece*ing ,ection
E<
o6 RA B@<A, the Con,titution +ro4i*e, that J5 5 5 no
,earch /arrant ,hall i,,ue e5ce+t u+on +ro9a9le cau,e 5
5 5 an* ,+eci6ically *e,cri9ing the 5 5 5 thing, 5 5 5 to 9e
,eize*.K
:;>.By 4irtue o6 !ection A< o6 RA B@<A, the legi,lature ha,
amen*e* !ec. A Art o6 the Con,titution ,ince it
+ro4i*e, 6or a *i66erent metho* o6 o9taining ,earch
/arrant, a, *e,cri9e* a9o4e.
PRAYER
2HERE(ORE, it i, re,+ect6ully +raye* o6 thi, Honora9le
Court to e5erci,e it, +o/er to?
a.8 *eclare the uncon,titutionality o6 !ec,. @, <, :>, A=
an* A< o6 Re+u9lic Act B@<A ;other/i,e Cno/n a,
the Human Security Act of 2007;
9.8 re,train +u9lic re,+on*ent,, mem9er, o6 the ATC,
6rom *i,charging their 6unction, un*er the ,tatute;
c.8 re,train the &e+artment, o6 Bu*get an*
Management, an* (inance, an* the Bureau o6
Trea,ury 6rom *i,9ur,ing any 6un*, 6or the +ur+o,e
o6 im+lementing ,uch ,tatute;
E>
*.8 re,train the Arme* (orce, o6 the #hili++ine, an* the
#hili++ine, "ational #olice 6rom en6orcing the
,tatute.
Quezon City.
:< )uly A;;<.
ROEUE BUTUYAN LAF
OFFFICE
C$(!"e- #$r the Petiti$!er"
Unit :B;E, Antel Cor+orate Centre,
:A: -alero !treet, !alce*o -illage,
MaCati City, #hili++ine,
By?
H0 HARRY ROEUE1 JR0
#TR "o. ;@:;@;=M:; )an
A;;<MMaCati City
B# $i6etime Mem9er
Roll "o. @=B<=
EZ#$A"ATO"
&ue to *i,tance an* lacC o6 me,,enger, at the $a/ O66ice to
e66ect +er,onal ,er4ice, the 6oregoing #ETTO" /a, ,ent
through regi,tere* mail.
H0 HARRY ROEUE1 JR0
C$(!"e- #$r the Petiti$!er"
EB
Co+y (urni,he*?
!ec. E*uar*o Ermita
E5ecuti4e !ecretary
O66ice o6 the E5ecuti4e !ecretary
MalacaGang #alace, Manila
!ec. Raul 0onzalez
!ecretary
&e+artment o6 )u,tice
#a*re (aura, Manila
!ec. Al9erto Romulo
!ecretary
&e+artment o6 (oreign A66air,
Ro5a, Boule4ar*, #a,ay City
!ec. Ronal*o #uno
!ecretary
&e+artment o6 nterior an* $ocal 0o4ernment
Hamia, cor. E&!A,
Quezon City
!ec. Margarito Te4e,
!ecretary
&e+artment o6 (inance
Ro5a, Boule4ar*, #a,ay City
!ec. Rolan*o An*aya
!ecretary
&e+artment o6 Bu*get an* Management
0en. !olano !t., !an Miguel, Manila
Hon. Ro9erto Tan
O66icer3in3Charge o6 the Bureau o6 Trea,ury
#alacio *el 0o9erna*or Bl*g.,
ntramuro,, Manila
F;
!ec. "or9erto 0onzale,
"ational !ecurity A*4i,er an* concurrent O66icer3in3Charge
&e+artment o6 "ational &e6en,e
Cam+ Aguinal*o, Quezon City
0en. Hermogene, E,+eron
Chie6 o6 !ta66
Arme* (orce, o6 the #hili++ine,
Cam+ Aguinal*o, Quezon City
&ir.M0en. O,car Cal*eron
&irector 0eneral
#hili++ine "ational #olice
Cam+ Crame, Quezon City
Hon. Agne, &e4ana*era
!olicitor30eneral
O66ice o6 the !olicitor 0eneral
:@E Amor,olo !t., $ega,+i -illage,
MaCati City, Metro Manila.
F: