Lawyers and lawmakers who challenged the Cybercrime Prevention Act
before the Supreme Court on Tuesday enjoined the public to remain
vigilant despite a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by High
Court halting the implementation of the law.
Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño, who questioned the validity of the law
on Monday together with the group Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance,
described the TRO as an “initial victory.”
“I
commend the SC for listening to the petitioners… We must remain vigilant
because the TRO is just for 120 days,” the lawmaker said in a text
message.
Earlier in the day, the SC unanimously ordered
to stop the implementation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime
Prevention Act after receiving 15 petitions questioning the
constitutionality of portions of the law.
The
law took effect last week amid online and legal protests over some of
its provisions, such as the online libel provision and the authority
given the government to access or block certain computer data.
Lawyer Harry Roque, another petitioner against the cybercrime law, said
that the TRO shows that the enforcement of the legislation “will cause
injustice and irreparable injury” to Filipinos.
“It hence validates petitioners’ argument that prima facie, the law,
which limits freedom of expression on the internet, does not enjoy the
presumption of constitutionality,” the lawyer said in a separate
statement.
He also called on the public to
continue monitoring developments on the cybercrime law until it is
declared unconstitutional by the high court.
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, for his part, attributed the issuance
of the TRO to the widespread protests against the cybercrime law.
“This is a very welcome development and credit must go to both the
online and offline protesters who lambasted onion-skinned politicians
and courted being charged with libel,” Colmenares said in a text
message. — DVM, GMA News
