A youth party-list group has urged the public to ?rekindle online and offline protests? with the Supreme Court reportedly set to release its decision on Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 this week.
In a statement, Kabataan Partylist said it got the information on the impending release of the ruling from several sources in the SC who asked not to be identified for lack of authority to speak on the matter.
?We have reliable information that the high court will decide on the Cybercrime Law in their en banc hearing this Tuesday in Baguio City. In this light, we call on everyone not just to remain vigilant, but also resume the online and offline protests,? said Kabataan Partylist president Terry Ridon, legal counsel of youth leaders who filed the sixth petition for prohibition against RA 10175.
With the expected release of the decision, a local hacktivist group also warned that it would unleash protest actions similar to those seen after the controversial law was signed by Pres. Benigno Aquino III.
Newsbytes.ph was the first media outlet in the country to report the signing of the law by Aquino.
A total of 15 petitions were filed in the SC to assail the constitutionality of the new law last year. Most petitions assailed Sections 4(c)4, 5, 6, 7 and the whole Chapter 4 of RA 10175.
Section 4(c)4, 5, and 6 of RA 10175 relate to online libel, and are unconstitutional due its vagueness, the youth leader explained.
Meanwhile, Chapter IV of RA 10175 is also unconstitutional for violating constitutional due process, Ridon added.
?The release of the Supreme Court decision will finally end the legal limbo that the temporary restraining order has set upon the Cybercrime Law. Though the case against the Cybercrime Law is undoubtedly strong, no one can ascertain how the SC would vote. Thus we encourage the public to rekindle our broad unity against the so-called e-Martial Law,? Ridon said.
