Supreme Court stops cybercrime law indefinitely

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATE, 1 p.m.) A day before the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the implementation of the Cybercrime Prevention Law lapses, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an indefinite extension on the TRO following clamor from petitioners and the general public.

The 120-day TRO was extended "until further orders from the court," Supreme Court spokesperson Gleo Guerra said in text message.

The TRO is the last mechanism holding off the implementation of the controversial law, which has been scored by critics and civil society groups as an assault on Filipinos' freedom of speech.

The high tribunal finished hearing the oral arguments of petitioners and the Solicitor General on the law last week, after which both camps were given 20 days to present their memoranda before the court.

It remains unknown when the high court will issue a decision based on the points raised by both camps, although the Solicitor General earlier conceded the unconstitutionality of Section 19 of the law, also known as the takedown clause.


http://www.interaksyon.com/article/54353/supreme-court-stops-cybercrime-law-indefinitely