HIGHLIGHTS: Supreme Court oral arguments on anti-terror law

After almost two months’ worth of suspensions, the Supreme Court resumes the oral arguments for the anti-terror law, taking it online for the first time in the Court’s history.

Solicitor General Jose Calida is scheduled to be interpellated on Day 5, which will start 2 pm on Tuesday, April 27.

As of writing, the Supreme Court has not yet resolved repeated motions for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), in large part due to Calida’s several motions for extension, which he had been allowed.

The Supreme Court en banc is in session beginning 10 am Tuesday.
Read this explainer before the oral arguments begin.

The 4th day of the oral arguments on the anti-terror law in the Supreme Court concluded at 6:23 pm. It was also the conclusion of the interpellation of the counsels for petitioners.

The oral arguments will resume on Tuesday, March 9.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta asked Solicitor General Jose Calida to submit their opening statement on Friday, March 5.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Mario Villamor Lopez took center stage on Tuesday, March 2, as he grilled petitioners during the 4th day of oral arguments on the anti-terror law.

The long-time member of the judiciary, Lopez was appointed to the High Court in December 2019 by President Rodrigo Duterte. Prior to joining SC, he served as associate justice at the Court of Appeals, where he chaired the 12th Division and the rules committee.

He obtained his law degree from San Beda College, the alma mater of Duterte, where he graduated cum laude. According to the SC’s Public Information Office, Lopez placed among the top 30 examinees in the 1980 Bar exams with an average of 85.05%.

What else do we need to know about Associate Justice Mario Lopez? Read this story.