In the memorandum filed by Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay), the petitioners said a person detained under Section 29 of the law may file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus but due to the law’s wording, the writ will not be issued. Lagman is one of the petitioners and oralists in the oral arguments on the legal challenges against the anti-terrorism law. During the oral arguments, Section 29 was one of the heavily discussed portions of the law. Associate Justice Marvic Leonen had asked National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers chair Neri Colmenares if the petition for the writ of habeas corpus is still available to a person detained. The law has been in effect for nearly a year now and has at least three ATA cases are pending in lower courts.

Source: Philippine Star June 28, 2021 09:56 UTC