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ENBANC
ADV1SORY
G.R. No. 203299 (Louis C. Biraogo v. National Bureau of
Investigation, et al.); G.R. No. 203306 (Alab ng Mamamahayag
(ALAM), et al. v. Office of the President, et al.); G.R. No. 203335 (Jose
Jesus M. Disini, Jr., et al. v. The Secretary of Justice, et al.); G.R. No.
203359 (Senator Teofisto DL Guingona, III v. The Executive Secretary,
et al.); G.R. No. 203378 (Alexander Adonis, et al. v. The Executive
Secretary, et al.); G.R. No. 203391 (Hon. Raymond V. Palatino v. Hon.
Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., etc., et al.); G.R. No. 203407 (Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan Secretary General Renato M. Reyes, Jr., et al. v. Benigno
Simeon C. Aquino III, etc.); G.R. No. 203440 (Melencio S. Sta. Maria, et
al. v. Hon. Paquito Ochoa, etc., et al.); G.R. No. 203453 (National Union
of Journalists of the Philippines, et al. v. The Executive Secretary, et
al.); G.R. No. 203454 (Paul Cornelius T. Castillo, et al. v. The Hon.
Secretary of Justice, et al.); G.R. No. 203469 (Anthony Ian M. Cruz, et
al. v. His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III, etc., et al.); G.R. No. 203501
(Philippine Bar Association, Inc. v. His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino
III, etc., et al.); G.R. No. 203509 (Bayan Mona Representative Neri J.
Colmenares v. The Executive secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr.); G.R. No.
203515 (National Press Club of the Philippines, Inc., etc. v. Office of the
President, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, etc., et al.); G.R. No.
203518 (Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance, etc., et al. v. The
Executive Secretary, et al.).
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The following advisory shall govern the oral arguments scheduled at
2:00p.m. on Tuesday, 15 January 2013:
1. Counsels designated by agreement of the parties on 04 January
2013 shall orally argue the following issues:
First. Atty. Harry L. Roque, Jr. --Whether or not Section
. 4( c)( 4) of Republic Act 1 0 1 7 5 (the Cybercrime Prevention Act
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of 20 12), which punishes the crime of libel when committed
using a computer system, violates the accused's rights:
(a) to due process of law;
(b) to equal protection of the law;
(c) to free expression; and
(d) against double jeopardy.
Further, whether the same Section 4( c)( 4) is a bill of
attainder or an ex post facto law or whether it violates the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Court advises Atty. Roque to touch also on the issue
of whether or not Section 4(c)(l), which punishes cybersex (the
willful engagement, maintenance, control, or operation, directly
or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organ or
sexual activity, with the aid of a computer system, for favor or
consideration), violates the constitutional right to free
expressiOn.
Second. Cong. Neri J. Colmenares -- (1) Whether
or not Section 6, which punishes by one degree higher those
crimes covered by the Revised Penal Code or special laws if
committed with the use of information and communications
technologies, violate the constitutional rights:
(a) to dueprocess oflaw;
(b) to equal protection of the law;
(c) to free expression; and
(d) against double jeopardy.
Further, whether the same Section 6 constitutes a bill of
attainder and is incompatible with article 19, par. 3, of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights respecting
the freedom of expression.
(2) Whether or not Section 7, a related section, which
provides that a prosecution under the Act shall be without
prejudice to any liability under the Revised Penal Code or
special laws, violates the constitutional rights:
(a) to due process of law;
(b) to equal protection of the law;
(c) to free expression; and
(d) against double jeopardy.
Third. Atty. Rodel A. Cruz .:._ Whether or not Section
19, which empowers the DOJ to restrict or block access to
(L/
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computer data found to be in violation of the law, violates the
constitutional rights:
(a) to due process of law;
(b) against unlawful search and seizure;
(c) to privacy of communication;
(d) to free expression; and
(e) against double jeopardy.
Further, whether or not Section 19 (a) constitutes an
undue delegation of legislative power; (b) grants the Secretary
of Justice an unbridled power to act as "judge, jury, and
executioner" of all cybercrime-related complaints; and (c) is an
undue delegation of judicial function.
Note: The OSG agrees with petitioners that Section 19 is
unconstitutional because it permits a final restraint on
expression without prior judicial determination of illegality.
For this reason, Congress may, if it so desires, send counsel
who will argue the constitutionality of Section 19 (a) on its
behalf.
Fourth. Atty. Jesus M. Disini, Jr. -- Whether or
not Section 12, which empowers law enforcement authorities to
collect traffic data in real time with specified communications
transmitted through a computer system and requires service
providers to assist such collection, violates the constitutional
rights:
(a) to due process of law;
(b) to free expression;
(c) against unlawful search and seizure;
(d) against warrantless electronic surveillance;
(e) against the privacy of communications.
Fifth. Atty. Julius G. Matibag -- Whether or not
Section 5(a) and (b), which punish internet users for aiding or
abetting a cybercrime offense or attempting its commission,
violate the constitutional rights:.
(a) to due process of law;
(b) to equal protection of the law;
(c) to freedom of expression; and
(d) against d o u ~ l e jeopardy.
Further, whether or not the same section constitutes a bill
of attainder.
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2. The rest of the issues raised by the various parties that are not
covered by the oral arguments shall be heard on written memorandum by the
petitioners concerned.
3. The above-designated counsels shall each have a maximum of
ten (1 0) minutes to present his arguments on his assigned issue or issues.
The interpellations by members of the Court shall immediately follow after
each presentation of arguments.
4. The Solicitor General shall have the same amount of time as the
petitiOners for his counter arguments scheduled at 2 p.m. on 22 January
2013. If Congress sends its own counsel to argue on the issues covering
section 19, counsel shall have 10 minutes to make his presentation.
5. The time allotted for counsels to argue shall be exclusive of the
time devoted to interpellation by the Members of the Court.
Louis "Barak" C. Biraogo (x)
Petitioner in G.R. No. 203299
No.115 Mariveles St., San Jose Village 3
Barangay Binan, City of Binan, Laguna Province
Attys. Berteni Cataluna Causing, Cirilo P. Sabarre, Jr,
& Dervin V. Castro (x)
RENT APE CAUSING SABARRE CASTRO
& ASSOCIATES
Counsel for Petitioners in G.R. No. 203306
Unit 1, 2368 JB Roxas St., cor. Leon Guinto St.,
Malate, Manila
Attys. Jose Jesus M. Disini, Jr., Rowena S. Disini,
& Lianne Ivy Pascua-Medina (x)
DISINI & DISINI LAW OFFICE
Counsel for Petitioners in G.R. No. 203335
320 Philippine Social Science Center
Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Attys. Alex 0. Avisado, Jr., Raymond M. Cajucom,
Ronald Michel R. Ubana, Maria Cristina B. Garcia-
Ramirez & Rose Anne P. Rosales (x)
GANA ATIENZA AVISADO LAW OFFICES
Counsel for Petitioner in G.R. No. 203359
3'd Floor HPL Building
No. 60 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City
Very truly yours,
E N ~ A L
i g ~ ofCourtl
Attys. H. Harry L. Roque, Jr., Ramel Regalado
Bagares & Gilbert Teruel Andres (x)
ROQUE & BUTUYAN LAW OFFICES
Counsel for Petitioners in G.R. No. 203378
1904 Antel 2000 Corporate Center
121 Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Attjs. Julius Garcia Matibag, Carlos lsagani T. Zarate,
Gregorio Y. Fabros & Maria Cristina P. Yambot (x)
NATIONAL UNION OF PEOPLES' LAWYERS
Counsel for Petitioners in G.R. No. 203407
3'd Floor, Erythrina Building
No. 1 Maaralin cor. Matatag Sts.
Central District, Quezon City
Attys. Melencio Sta. Maria, Sedfrey M. Candelaria,
Amparito de los Santos-Sta. Maria, Gilbert V.
Sembrano, Ryan Jeremiah D. Quan, Maria Patricia
R. Cervantes, Ray Paolo J. Santiago and
Nina Patricia D. Sison-Arroyo (x)
Counsel for Petitioners in G.R. No. 203440
Ateneo Human Rights Center
G/F Ateneo Professionals Schools Building
20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City
ADVISORY
AtPj. Theodora 0. Te (x)
Counsel for all Petitioners in G.R. No. 203453
Free Legal Assistance Group [FLAG]
Room 201, Malcolm Hall, UniversiPj of the
Philippines
Diliman, Quezon CiPj
AtPjs. Paul Cornelius T. Castillo and Ryan D.
Andres (x)
Petitioners in G.R. No. 203454
6
1
h Floor, Tuscan Building, 114 V.A. Rufino St..
. Makati CiPj
AtPj. Kristoffer James E. Purisima (x)
Counsel for Petitioners in G.R. No. 203469
6/F L T A Building, 118 Perea Street
1229 Legaspi Village, Makati CiPj
AtPjs. Rico A. Limpingco, Arthur Anthony S. Alicer, and
Michelle Anne S. Lapuz (x)
Counsel for Petitioner in G.R. No. 203501
Solis Medina Limpingco and Fajardo Law Offices
1106 East Tower, Philippine Stock Exchange
Centre, Exchange Road, Ortigas Commercial
Center, Pasig CiPj
AtPj. Edsel F. Tupaz (x)
Counsel for Petitioner in G. R. No. 203509
41 N. Romualdez Street, BF Homes Subdivision
1120 Quezon CiP-J
AtPj. Michael J. Mella (x)
Counsel for Petitioner in G.R. No. 203515
Santillan-Felix Magbanua and Mella Law Office
Unit 1106, Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road
Ortigas Center, Pasig CiPj
AtPj. Renecio s. Espiritu, Jr. (x)
Counsel for Petitioners in G.R. No. 203518
Guevarra Mendoza and Espiritu Law Offices
Suite 602 Richmonde Plaza Hotel
21 San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center
Pasig CiPj
AtPj. James Mark Terry L. Ridon (x)
Counsel for Petitioners in G.R. No.203391
89 K-7-St., Kamias, Quezon CiPj
AtPj. Kelvin Lester K. Lee (x)
Counsel for Petitioners in G.R. No. 203518
San Juan Tayag Lee and Vergara Law Office
Unit 805 xavierville Square, Xavierville Avenue
Quezon City
The Solicitor General (x)
134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village
1229 Makati CiPj
G.R. No. 203299, et al.
Nmr/01813[ADVISORY]
-5- G. R. No. 203299, er al.
Secretary Leila M. de Lima (x)
Department of Justice
DOJ, Padre Faura, Manila
Director Nonnatus Caesar R. Rojas (x)
National bureau of Investigation
NBI, Taft Avenue, Manila
Secretary Manuel A. Roxas Ill (x)
Department of Interior and Local
Government
A. Francisco Gold Condominium II
EDSA, Diliman, Quezon CiPj
Director Gen. Alan Purisima (x)
Chief , Philippine National Police
PNP National Headquarters
January 9; 2013
Camp General Crame, EDSA, Quezon CiPj
AtPj. Corazon D. Delos Reyes (x)
DepuPj Clerk of Court and Chief
Judicial Records Office
Supreme Court
Public Information Office (x)
Supreme Court
Executive Director Louis C. Casambre (x)
Chairperson, Cybercrime Investigation and
Coordinating Center[CICC]
Information and Communications Technology Office
National Computer Center Building
C. P. Garcia Avenue, Diliman, Quezon CiPj
His Excellency Benigno Simeon C. Aquino Ill (x)
Office of the President
Malacariang, Manila
Senate of the Philippines (x)
c/o Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile
GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd.
Pasay CiPj
House of the Representatives (x)
c/o Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
House of Representatives, Batasang Pambansa
Complex, Batasan Hills, Quezon CiPj
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr.(x)
Premier Guest House, Malacanang
J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila
Secretary Florencio B. Abad (reg)
Department of Budget and Management
Malacanang, Manila
Secretary Mario Montejo (x)
Department of Science and Technology
DOST Building, Gen. Santos Avenue
Bicutari, Taguig CiPj