SC allots P19 million for vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has allocated P19 million to procure COVID-19 vaccines for more than 30,000 justices, judges and judiciary employees.

The funding for the vaccination program will be sourced from the regular appropriations or savings of the SC, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals and the lower courts.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta might agree to be the first to be inoculated if given the go-signal by his doctors, according to SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka.

“I’m sure if there are no restrictions, he would set the example. Chief Justice Peralta has always believed in leadership by example,” Hosaka said.

The SC has yet to identify vaccination sites and is coordinating with government agencies on how to better protect judiciary employees, especially workers of regional trial courts who interact with litigants and lawyers daily.

Anti-terror law

Meanwhile, the SC appointed retired chief justice Reynato Puno as amicus curiae in oral arguments on petitions questioning the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Puno will be joining retired associate justice Francis Jardeleza as the second amicus curiae for the proceedings.

An amicus curiae is an experienced and impartial lawyer whose opinion is sought by the high tribunal to settle certain issues.

The SC set the third oral arguments on the anti-terror law on Feb. 16.

The high court has denied a petition-in-intervention filed by two terror-tagged Aetas because of their pending case before the Olongapo City regional trial court.

Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos claimed they were tortured and accused of terrorism by the military.