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8/13/2019 108031357 Senator TG Guingona Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition
1/39
Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURT
Manila
SENATOR TEOFISTO DLGUINGONA III,
Petitioner,
-versus-
G.R. No._____________
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY,THE SECRETARY OF
JUSTICE, THE SECRETARY
OF THE DEPARTMENT OFINTERIOR AND LOCALGOVERNMENT, THE CHIEFOF THE PHILIPPINENATIONAL POLICE, andDIRECTOR OF THENATIONAL BUREAU OFINVESTIGATION,
Respondents.
xx
PETITION FOR CERTIORARI AND
PROHIBITION
(with Application for Temporary RestrainingOrder)
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2
Petitioner, SENATOR TEOFISTO DL GUINGONA III, by
counsel, most respectfully states that:
PREFATORY STATEMENT
When the judiciary mediates to
allocate constitutional boundaries, it does not
assert any superiority over the other
departments; it does not in reality nullify or
invalidate an act of the legislature, but only
asserts the solemn and sacred obligation
assigned to it by the Constitution to
determine conflicting claims of authority
under the Constitution and to establish for
the parties in an actual controversy the rights
which that instrument secures and
guarantees to them. !"iraogo vs. #he
$hilippine #ruth Commission of %&'&, (.).
*o. '+%+, (.). *o. '+&, /ecember 0,
%&'&1
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3
The power of the Honorable Supreme Court is sought
not on questions of the wisom an necessity of a law, but
on its compliance with the funamental guarantees
enshrine in our Constitution! "espite #nowing the
ifficulties of enforcement an se$eral a$enues for potential,
petitioner ma#es the calibrate choice to raise only
questions of constitutionality, both as an affirmation of his
primary ob%ections to certain pro$isions of the Cybercrime
Pre$ention &ct of 2'(2 an recognition of the %urisictional
reach of this Court!
This is an assault against our funamental
Constitutional rights to ue process, guarantee against
unreasonable searches an sei)ures, prohibition against
ouble %eopary, an equal protection of the law! The
questione pro$isions, as containe in certain pro$isions of
Republic &ct ('(*+, infringes our basic freeom an throws
us bac# to the ar# ages!
& goo law li#e the Cybercrime Pre$ention &ct of 2'(2
cannot be paraly)e by constitutionally infirme pro$isions
questionably angerous pro$isions! The remey sought from
this Court is to stri#e own the pro$isions that collie with
the Constitution!
8/13/2019 108031357 Senator TG Guingona Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition
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-n clear constitutional grouns, this Petition is brought
before the Honorable Court to test the $aliity of a
go$ernmental act in light of its conformity with a higher
norm ... the Constitution!
I
NATURE OF THE PETITION
(! This is a Special Ci$il &ction for C/RT0-R&R0 an
PR-H010T0- uner Rule + of the Re$ise Rules of Court
see#ing to 455067 Sections 8c9 8(9 89, , *, an ( of
Republic &ct o! ('(*+, otherwise #nown as the
;Cybercrime Pre$ention &ct of 2'(2< 8Cybercrime Act,
for brevity9 for being 4C-ST0T4T0-&5 an=or PR-H010T
responent go$ernment boies from implementing it!
& certifie true copy of Cybercrime Act is hereto
attache an mae an integral part hereof asAnnex A!!
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+
2! To pre$ent manifest in%ustice an inequality, the
Petitioner also see#s the issuance of a TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER !o IMMEDIATELY ENJOIN the
implementation an enforcement of Sections 8c9 8(9 89, ,
*, an ( of the C"#$%&%'($ A&!, uring the penency of
this Petition!
II
REASONS FOR THE ALLO)ANCEOF THE PETITION
3! The present Petition shoul be gi$en ue course
for the following reasons:
3!( Section + 8(9 829 8a9, &rticle >000 of the (?*
Philippine Constitution pro$ies that the Supreme Court
shall ha$e the power to rule on the constitutionality or
$aliity of a law! Thus,
S$&!'on *.The Supreme Court shall ha$e the
following powers:
(! Ex$%&'+$ o%''na- /%'+d'&!'on
o$er cases affecting ambassaors, other
8/13/2019 108031357 Senator TG Guingona Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition
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public ministers an consuls, an o0$%
1$!'!'on+ 2o% &$%!'o%a%', 1%o3'#'!'on,
manamus, quo warranto, an habeas
corpus!
2! Re$iew, re$ise, re$erse, moify, or
affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the law
or the Rules of Court may pro$ie, final
%ugments an orers of lower courts in:
a! A-- &a+$+ 'n 43'&3 !3$
&on+!'!/!'ona-'!" o% 0a-'d'!" o2
an" !%$a!", 'n!$%na!'ona- o%
$x$&/!'0$ a%$$($n!, -a4,
presiential ecree, proclamation,
orer, instruction, orinance, or
regulation '+ 'n 5/$+!'on.
8emphasis supplie9
3!2! Petitioner appeals that the Honorable
Supreme Court e@ercise its %uicial power to eclare
Sections 8c9 8(9 89, , *, an ( of the Cybercrime &ct
as NULL AND VOID for being in gross $iolation of the
constitutional rights to ue process, equal protection of
the laws, prohibition against ouble %eopary, right
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*
against unreasonable search an sei)ure, an right to
pri$acy!
3!3 The sub%ect of the present Petition is of
transcenental importance which has o$erreaching
significance to society an paramount public interest,
consiering its impact on the public an social meia!
3!! There is no plain, speey an aequate
remey in the orinary course of law a$ailable to
Petitioner other than this Petition as the continue
implementation of the Cybercrime &ct alreay e@poses
the Petitioner an the general public to the harm it
see#s to a$oi!
III
PARTIES
! Petitioner SENATOR TEOFISTO DL GUINGONA
III is a uly.electe Senator of the Republic of the
Philippines! He was the lone Senator who $ote against
Republic &ct o! ('(*+, otherwise #nown as the
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?
;Cybercrime Pre$ention &ct of 2'(2
legislator, he has a legal staning to see to it that the
prerogati$e, powers an pri$ileges $este by the
Constitution in his office remain in$iolate! &s such, he is
allowe to question the $aliity of any official action which,
to his min, infringes on his prerogati$es as legislator(! He
may be ser$e with court notices an other process through
the unersigne counsel!
+! Responents are public officers tas#e with the
enforcement an implementation of the Cybercrime
Pre$ention &ct of 2'(2!
+!( Responent /A/C4T0>/ S/CR/T&R7 is the
alter ego of the Presient of the Philippines! He may be
ser$e with summons an other process at the Premier
Buest House, alacanang, DP 5aurel St!, San iguel
anilaE
+!2 Responent S/CR/T&R7 -6 TH/
"/P&RT/T -6 D4ST0C/ 8"-D9 is a public officer tas#e
( "iraogo vs. #he $hilippine #ruth Commission of %&'&, (.). *o. '+%+, (.). *o.'+&, /ecember 0, %&'&
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with the enforcement an the prosecution of the crimes
efine uner the Cybercrime Pre$ention &ct of 2'(2!
She may be ser$e with summons an other process at
the "epartment of Dustice, Pare 6aura St!, /rmita,
anilaE
+!3 Responent S/CR/T&R7 -6 TH/
"/P&RT/T -6 0T/R0-R &" 5-C&5 B->/R/T
8"05B9 is a public officer tas#e with the
implementation of the Cybercrime Pre$ention &ct of
2'(2! He may be ser$e with summons an other
process at &! 6rancisco Bol Conominium 00, /"S& cor!
acapagal St!, "iliman, Fue)on CityE
+! Responent CH0/6 -6 TH/ PH050PP0/
&T0-&5 P-50C/ 8PP9 is tas#e with the enforcement
of the Cybercrime Pre$ention &ct of 2'(2, particularly
authori)e to engage in the collection of traffic ata
uner the abo$e.mentione law! He may be ser$e with
summons an other process at the PP ational
Heaquarters, Camp Beneral Crame, Fue)on City,
etro anilaE an,
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('
+!+ Responent "0R/CT-R -6 TH/ &T0-&5
14R/&4 -6 0>/ST0B&T0- 8109 is the hea of the
10, which is tas#e as the 5aw /nforcement &uthority
empowere to engage in the collection of traffic ata
uner the abo$e.mentione law! He may be ser$e with
summons an other process at the 10 1uiling, Taft
&$e!, /rmita, anila!
IV
STATEMENT OF FACTS
! -n Duly 2*, 2'(', House Representati$e Susan &! 7ap
file House 1ill o! ?+ entitle 2n 2ct /efining Cybercrime,
$roviding for the $revention, 3nvestigation, 4uppression, and the
3mposition of $enalties #herefor and for 5ther $urposes!
*! &fter its first reaing, it was referre to the Committee
on 0nformation Communication Technology, which later
consoliate all the bills on Cybercrime! This resulte to House
1ill o! +?'? which now appears in Committee Report o! (?(?
file on 6ebruary , 2'(2!
?! -n ay , 2'(2, House 1ill o! +?'? was appro$e on
Secon Reaing!
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((
! &fter a series of amenments, copies of the bill were
istribute an later appro$e on Thir Reaing on 2( ay 2'(2!
This was thereafter transmitte to the Senate on 23 ay 2'(2!
('! 0n the meantime, on '3 ay 2'((, Senate 1ill o! 2*
entitle ;2n 2ct /efining Cybercrime, $roviding for $revention,
3nvestigation and 3mposition of $enalties #herefor and for 5ther
$urposes, as reflecte in Committee Report o! 3'!
((! &fter a series of interpellations, on 2 Danuary 2, 2'(2,
amenments were introuce an accepte by the Senate! Thus,
on the same ay, Senate 1ill o! 2* was appro$e on secon
reaing!
(2! Thus, copies of the bill with the appro$e amenments
were istribute an later appro$e on thir reaing on 3'
Danuary 2'(2! Petitioner was the lone Senator who oppose the
passage of the bill for being in $iolation of the (?* Constitution!
(3! -n ' Dune 2'(2, House 1ill o! +?'? an Senate 1ill
o! 2* were consoliate, resulting to the passage of Republic
&ct o! ('(*+(, otherwise #nown as ;Cybercrime Pre"ention
Act of #$%#.!
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(2
(! -n (2 September 2'(2, the Presient of the Philippines
appro$e Republic &ct o! ('(*+, an this too# effect fifteen 8(+9
ays after the completion of its publication in the -fficial Ba)ette
an at least two 829 newspapers of general circulation!
(+! The abo$e.mentione &ct efines cybercrime an
enumerates therein the punishable acts escribe as cybercrime
offenses incluing among others, libel!
(! 4ner Section 8c9 8(9 an 89 of the Cybercrime &ct,
cyberse@ an libel were efine as follows:
&ection ' (c)(%) Cybersex 6 T3$ 4'--2/-
$na$($n!, (a'n!$nan&$, &on!%o-, o%
o1$%a!'on, d'%$&!-" o% 'nd'%$&!-", o2 an"
-a+&'0'o/+ $x3'#'!'on o2 +$x/a- o%an+ o%
+$x/a- a&!'0'!", 4'!3 !3$ a'd o2 a
&o(1/!$% +"+!$(, 2o% 2a0o% o%
&on+'d$%a!'on.
&ection '(c)(') ibel T3$ /n-a42/- o%
1%o3'#'!$d a&!+ o2 -'#$- a+ d$2'n$d 'n
A%!'&-$ 7** o2 !3$ R$0'+$d P$na- Cod$,
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(3
a+ a($nd$d, &o(('!!$d !3%o/3 a
&o(1/!$% +"+!$( o% an" o!3$% +'('-a%
($an+ 43'&3 (a" #$ d$0'+$d 'n !3$
2/!/%$.
(*! Section of the Cybercrime &ct also pro$ie the
penalty to be impose upon any person who commits all
crimes defined and penali*ed by the Re"ised Penal Code,
as amended, and special laws, if committed by, thro+gh
and with the +se of information and comm+nications
technologies!.Thus,
&ection - &ll crimes efine an penali)e by
the Re$ise Penal Coe, as amene, an special
laws, if committe by, through an with the use of
information an communications technologies
shall be co$ere by the rele$ant pro$isions of this
&ct: Pro$ie, That !3$ 1$na-!" !o #$ '(1o+$d
+3a-- #$ on$ 89: d$%$$ 3'3$% !3an !3a!
1%o0'd$d 2o% #" !3$ R$0'+$d P$na- Cod$, a+
a($nd$d, and +1$&'a- -a4+, a+ !3$ &a+$ (a"
#$.
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(
(?! Section * of the Cybercrime &ct, in turn, eclares that
the prosecution uner the sai &ct shall be witho+t pre+dice
to any liability for "iolation of any pro"ision of the Re"ised
Penal Code, as amended, or special laws.!Thus,
&ection / - iability +nder Other aws.G
& prosecution uner this &ct shall be without
pre%uice to any liability for $iolation of any
pro$ision of the Re$ise Penal Coe, as amene,
or special laws!
(! &s regars the implementation an enforcement of the
sai law, Section ( grante the "epartment of Dustice with the
authority to issue an orer to restrict or bloc# access to such
computer ata against any person prima facie foun to be in
$iolation of the pro$ision of the Cybercrime &ct! Thus,
&0C. %1. Restricting or 2loc3ing Access
to Comp+ter 4ata. G )3$n a &o(1/!$%
da!a '+ 1%'(a 2a&'$ 2o/nd !o #$ 'n
0'o-a!'on o2 !3$ 1%o0'+'on+ o2 !3'+ A&!,
!3$ DOJ +3a-- '++/$ an o%d$% !o %$+!%'&!
o% #-o&; a&&$++ !o +/&3 &o(1/!$% da!a.
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(+
2'! The foregoing pro$isions are clearly $iolati$e of
the guarantees enshrine in the (?* Philippine
Constitution, hence, shoul be eclare 455 &" >-0"!
2(! Hence, this Petition!
V
GROUNDS FOR THE PETITION
A
S/CT0- 8c9 89 0 R/5&T0- T-S/CT0- -6 ;TH/ C71/RCR0/&CT< >0-5&T/S TH/C-ST0T4T0-&5 B4&R&T//S -/F4&5 PR-T/CT0- &" "4/PR-C/SS -6 5&!
B
S/CT0- * -6 ;TH/ C71/RCR0/&CT< 0S C-TR&R7 T- TH/C-ST0T4T0-&5 PR-H010T0-
&B&0ST "-415/ D/-P&R"7E an,
C
S/CT0- ( -6 ;TH/ C71/RCR0/&CT< 0S >0-5&T0>/ -6 TH/C-ST0T4T0-&5 PR-H010T0-&B&0ST 45&645 S/&RCH/S&" S/0I4R/ &" TH/ "4/
PR-C/SS C5&4S/ -6 TH/C-ST0T4T0-!
VI
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(
ARGUMENTS < DISCUSSIONS
&ection ' (c) (') in relation to&ection of the CybercrimeAct is "iolati"e of theconstit+tional g+arantee one5+al protection of law.----------------------------------------------
22! Section (, &rticle 000 of the (?* Constitution pro$ies
that no 1$%+on+3a-- #$ d$n'$d !3$ $5/a- 1%o!$&!'on o2 !3$
-a4! This is one of the basic rights guarantee uner the
Constitution! This was emphasi)e in the case of "iraogo vs. #he
$hilippine #ruth Commission of %&'& !(.). *o. '+%+, (.). *o.
'+&, /ecember 0, %&'&1,where the Supreme Court eclare
that =$5/a- 1%o!$&!'on +'(1-" %$5/'%$+ !3a! a-- 1$%+on+ o%
!3'n+ +'('-a%-" +'!/a!$d +3o/-d #$ !%$a!$d a-';$, #o!3 a+
!o %'3!+ &on2$%%$d and %$+1on+'#'-'!'$+ '(1o+$d.>
23! 4nfortunately, this right was $iolate with the
enactment o R& law which see#s to punish libel alreay efine
an punishable uner &rt! 3++ of the Re$ise Penal Coe, but this
time, imposing a higher penalty simply because it was committe
through the use of information an communications technology!
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(*
2! Significantly, the Cybercrime &ct merely aopte the
pro$ision on libel as pro$ie uner Re$ise Penal Coe, as
follows:
&ection '(c)(') ibel T3$ /n-a42/- o%
1%o3'#'!$d a&!+ o2 -'#$- a+ d$2'n$d 'n A%!'&-$
7** o2 !3$ R$0'+$d P$na- Cod$, a+ a($nd$d,
&o(('!!$d !3%o/3 a &o(1/!$% +"+!$( o%
an" o!3$% +'('-a% ($an+ 43'&3 (a" #$
d$0'+$d 'n !3$ 2/!/%$.
2+! Section of the Cybercrime &ct, on the other han,
pro$ies that a person who commits any crime efine an
penali)e by the Re$ise Penal Coe an special laws such as
libel, shall be punishe one 8(9 egree higher than that pro$ie
for by the Re$ise Penal Coe an special laws, as the case may
be, if he commits it with the use of information an
communications technology! Thus,
&ection - &ll crimes efine an penali)e
by the Re$ise Penal Coe, as amene, an
special laws, if committe by, through an
with the use of information an
communications technologies shall be
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(?
co$ere by the rele$ant pro$isions of this &ct:
Pro$ie, That !3$ 1$na-!" !o #$ '(1o+$d
+3a-- #$ on$ 89: d$%$$ 3'3$% !3an !3a!
1%o0'd$d 2o% #" !3$ R$0'+$d P$na- Cod$,
a+ a($nd$d, and +1$&'a- -a4+, a+ !3$
&a+$ (a" #$.
2! &pplying the foregoing, it can be reaily seen that 5ibel
uner the Re$ise Penal Coe is punishe by Prision Correccional
in its minimum an meium perios, or imprisonment for a
perio of si@ 89 months an one 8(9 ay to four 89 years, or a
fine ranging from 2'' to ,''' pesos, or both! Thus,
2rt. . ibel means by writings or
similar means. 6 2 libel committed by
means of writing, printing, lithography,
engraving, radio, phonograph, painting,
theatrical e7hibition, cinematographic
e7hibition, or any similar means, shall be
punished by prision correccional in its
minimum and medium periods or a fine
ranging from %&& to ,&&& pesos, or both, in
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(
addition to the civil action which may be
brought by the offended party.
2*! -n the other han , 5ibel uner the Cybercrime &ct is
punishe with a penalty of prision mayor or an imprisonment of
si@ 89 years an one 8(9 ay to twel$e 8(29 years, the penalty one
8(9 egree higher than prision correccional or an imprisonment of
si@ 89 months an one 8(9 ay to four 89 years!
2?! &pplying the foregoing pro$isions, it woul appear that
if libel is committe by means of writing, printing,
lithography, engra"ing, radio, phonograph, painting,
theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any
similar means /nd$% A%!'&-$ 7** o2 !3$ R$0'+$d P$na-
Cod$, the penalty woul only be si@ 89 months an one 8(9 ay
to four 89 years! -n the other han, if libel is committe thro+gh
a comp+ter system or any other similar means +nder the
Cybercrime Act, the penalty woul be the higher penalty of
imprisonment for a perio of si@ 89 years an one 8(9 ay to
twel$e 8(29 years!
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2'
2! 0t is $ery clear that those liable for libel uner the RPC
woul suffer a lesser penalty than cyber libel uner R!&! o!
('(*+! This is clearly a $iolation of the equal protection clause of
the Constitution! 0t unuly iscriminates persons of the same
class, as it penali)es the act of publishing libelous materials
through internet more hea$ily than those which are committe by
means of writing, printing, lithography, engra$ing, raio,
phonograph, painting, theatrical e@hibition, cinematographic
e@hibition, or any similar means!
3'! T3'+ +3o/-d no! #$ a--o4$d. A -a4, !o #$ 0a-'d,
(/+! a11-" !o a-- ($(#$%+ o2 !3$ +a($ &-a++. P$%+on+
&o(('!!'n -'#$- a%$ +'('-a%-" +'!/a!$d, 43$!3$% /+'n a
&o(1/!$% +"+!$( o% no!. There is no reason to treat them
ifferently! &s such, there is no %ustification for the ifference in
the imposition of penalties uner the two statutes! 1eing unuly
iscriminatory to members of the same class, certainly, Section
of the Cybercrime &ct shoul be struc# own for being $iolati$e of
the constitutional guarantee against equal protection of the law!
3(! &s hel in the case of 2iraogo "s. The Philippine
Tr+th Commission of #$%$!(.). *o. '+%+, (.). *o. '+&,
/ecember 0, %&'&1,
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2(
The equal protection of the laws is embrace
in the concept of ue process, as e$ery unfair
iscrimination offens the requirements of
%ustice an fair play! 0t has been emboie in
a separate clause, howe$er, to pro$ie for a
more specific guaranty against any form of
unue fa$oritism or hostility from the
go$ernment! &rbitrariness in general may be
challenge on the basis of the ue process
clause! B/! '2 !3$ 1a%!'&/-a% a&! a++a'-$d
1a%!a;$+ o2 an /n4a%%an!$d 1a%!'a-'!" o%
1%$/d'&$, !3$ +3a%1$% 4$a1on !o &/! '!
do4n '+ !3$ $5/a- 1%o!$&!'on &-a/+$!
32! 0n $iew of the foregoing, it is $ery easy to see that
Section of the Cybercrime 2ct shoul be struc# own for being
$iolati$e of the constitutional guarantee on equal protection of
the law!
&ection / of Rep+blic Act6o. %$%/7 is contrary tothe constit+tionalprohibition against do+bleeopardy.
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22
---------------------------------------
33! &s if it were not enough, Section * of the Cybercrime
&ct also $iolates the constitutional prohibition against ouble
%eopary as it ma#es a person liable not only uner the
Cybercrime &ct, but also uner the Re$ise Penal Coe!
3! Section 2(, A%!'&-$ III o2 !3$ 9?@ P3'-'11'n$
Con+!'!/!'on, states that ;No 1$%+on +3a-- #$ !4'&$ 1/! 'n
$o1a%d" o2 1/n'+3($n! 2o% !3$ +a($ o22$n+$> 0f an act is
punishe by a law an an orinance, con$iction or acquittal uner
either shall constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same
act!5oo#ing at it in a broaer
perspecti$e, it can be seen that this is tantamount to prior
restraint on the freeom of speech an e@pression!
+! 0t must be stresse that freeom of e@pression has
gaine recognition as a funamental principle of e$ery
emocratic go$ernment, an gi$en a preferre right that stans
on a higher le$el than substanti$e economic freeom or other
liberties! This was e@hausti$ely e@plaine in 8on*ales "s.
Commission on 0lections, where the Supreme Court state:
M&t the $ery least, free speech an free
press may be ientifie with the -'#$%!" !o
d'+&/++ 1/#-'&-" and !%/!32/--" an"
(a!!$% o2 1/#-'& 'n!$%$+! 4'!3o/!
&$n+o%+3'1 and 1/n'+3($n!! T3$%$ '+ !o
#$ no 1%$0'o/+ %$+!%a'n! on !3$
&o((/n'&a!'on o2 0'$4+ o% +/#+$5/$n!
-'a#'-'!" 43$!3$% 'n -'#$- +/'!+,
1%o+$&/!'on 2o% +$d'!'on, o% a&!'on 2o%
da(a$+, o% &on!$(1! 1%o&$$d'n+
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33
unless there be a clear an present anger of
substanti$e e$il that Congress has a right to
pre$ent!
++! This right to freeom of e@pression is so important that
ecriminali)ing libel is the present tren in moern countries!
True to this, it was e$en e@pressly guarantee uner &rticle ( of
the 4ni$ersal "eclaration of Human Rights, that =E0$%"on$ 3a+
!3$ %'3! !o 2%$$do( o2 o1'n'on and $x1%$++'on !3'+ %'3!
'n&-/d$+ 2%$$do( !o 3o-d o1'n'on+ 4'!3o/! 'n!$%2$%$n&$
and !o +$$;, %$&$'0$, and '(1a%! 'n2o%(a!'on and 'd$a+
!3%o/3 an" ($d'a and %$a%d-$++ o2 2%on!'$%+.>
+! Consiering the foregoing, it is clear that allowing the
passage of the highly questionable pro$isions of the Cybercrime
&ct woul in effect curtail the peopleJs right to freeom of
e@pression! &s a result, any computer user will now li$e in fear
#nowing that his critical comments, when publishe on.line, might
e@pose him to criminal charges! This shoul not be allowe! &
emocratic go$ernment flourishes when its citi)ens are not left to
cower in the sielines because of fear, afrai to spea# up an
later, afrai e$en to thin# against its own go$ernment!
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3
+*! 0n $iew of all the foregoing constitutional infirmities, the
Honorable Supreme Court shoul e@ercise its power to re$iew the
constitutionality of the Cybercrime Pre$ention &ct of 2'(2 an
shoul ma#e sure that all acts of the go$ernment are one in
consonance with the authorities an rights allocate to it by the
Constitution!
+?! 0n the case of "iraogo vs. #he $hilippine #ruth
Commission of %&'& !(.). *o. '+%+, (.). *o. '+&,
/ecember 0, %&'&1, the Supreme eclare the nullity of a law
simply because it was clearly $iolati$e of the Constitution, stating
that =No (a!!$% 3o4 no#-$ and 4o%!3" o2 ad('%a!'on !3$
1/%1o+$ o2 an a&!, #/! '2 !3$ ($an+ !o #$ $(1-o"$d 'n
a&&o(1-'+3'n '! '+ +'(1-" '%%$&on&'-a#-$ 4'!3
&on+!'!/!'ona- 1a%a($!$%+, !3$n '! &anno! +!'-- #$
a--o4$d. T3$ Co/%! &anno! /+! !/%n a #-'nd $"$ and +'(1-"
-$! '! 1a++. I! 4'-- &on!'n/$ !o /13o-d !3$ Con+!'!/!'on and
'!+ $n+3%'n$d 1%'n&'1-$+.>Thus,
&s :+stice a+rel puts it, ;when the
%uiciary meiates to allocate constitutional
bounaries, it oes not assert any superiority
o$er the other epartmentsE it oes not in
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reality nullify or in$aliate an act of the
legislature, but only asserts the solemn an
sacre obligation assigne to it by the
Constitution to etermine conflicting claims
of authority uner the Constitution an to
establish for the parties in an actual
contro$ersy the rights which that instrument
secures an guarantees to them!