MANILA, Philippines — Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Sunday accused the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines of pressuring the Supreme Court (SC) to decide against the Anti-Terror Act of 2020 after it issued a pastoral letter sounding the alarm on the anti-terror law. Panelo noted that the CBCP, in its pastoral letter and call to prayer dated July 16, supports petitions filed before the SC. He said that the CBCP letter “appears to have violated” the constitutional provision on the separation of the Church and the State. “The law has been passed weeks ago and there have been no signs of any ‘chilling effect’ on those who wish to publicly air their grievances against the government. RELATED STORIES45 US lawmakers call for immediate repeal of PH anti-terror lawAntiterror law takes effect today without IRR/MUFRead NextEDITORS' PICKMOST READ

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 19, 2020 13:04 UTC