SC sets oral arguments on petitions vs government's war on drugs

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court will hear the defense of the government on its anti-narcotics campaign through oral arguments on November 21.

SC Spokesperson Theodore Te, in a press briefing on Tuesday, said the petitioners and respondent Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, to be represented by the Office of the Solicitor General, to present oral arguments before the full court on November 17, 2:00 p.m.

Te said that the SC consolidated two petitions that seek for a temporary restraining order and a writ of amparo on the government's war on drugs.

The two parties are also ordered to file their respective comment on the petition "within a non-extendible period of ten (10) days upon receipt of order."

Two petitions vs war on drugs

On October 11, Aileen Almora and Rowena Appari were assisted by the members of the of Free Legal Assistance Group, led by De La Salle University Dean Chel Diokno, when they filed a petition seeking a writ of amparo (or protection), injunction and prohibition, temporary protection order, and TRO before the Suprem Court.

The plea intends to stop extrajudicial killings caused by the nationwide war on drugs.

Almora's brother Ryan Dave was killed in a police anti-drug operation, while Appari's son, was killed in a home invasion. Petitioner Jefferson Soriano, meanwhile, survived the police's anti-drug operation despite being shot several times.

The respondents of the petition are Director General Ronald Dela Rosa in his capacity as PNP, all officers, agents or other persons acting under his authority and supervision as well as Eduardo Año is his capacity as Department of Interior and Local Government, and all under his authority and supervision. Año was recently appointed as the senior aide of the DILG.

Another petition was filed by Sr. Ma. Juanito R. Daño and 38 other petitioners whose families were killed in police anti-drug operations seeking for a writ of amparo.

Daño was assisted by the Center of International Law in filing its petition of October 19. 

In its 51-page petition, CenterLaw claimed there is "systematic violence perpetrated by or wrought in conspiracy with the respondents through the members of the Manila Police District Station 6" in the San Andres Bukid district of Manila.

The two petitions were filed asking the SC to issue a halt order on the government's bloody war on drugs.

Last January, CenterLaw also filed a petition for the writ of amparo against some members of the PNP involved in Oplan Tokhang. The petition however covered tokhang operation in Payatas, Quezon City and not nationwide.

On October 12, President Rodrigo Duterte issued a memorandum that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to be the sole government body to carry out the government's war on drugs.

Following this, the PNP said that Oplan Tokhang and Double Barrel are halted.