Indefinite extension of Cybercrime TRO sought

MANILA, Philippines - Militant group Bayan, one of the organizations questioning the legality of the the Cybercrime Law, said on Friday it would seek the indefinite extension of the temporary restraining order against the measure before the Supreme Court.

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said they will join other petitioners in asking an indefinite extension of the TRO against the implementation of the controversial law. The 120-day TRO expires on February 6.

"Let’s all converge on Padre Faura on Tuesday and show support for our lawyers who will be arguing before the Supreme Court. This is an important battle in junking this repressive law which violates free speech and our right to privacy," Reyes said.

Bayan is represented by the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers.  Bayan's petition was also signed by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera and human rights group Karapatan.

Bayan is part of a loose network of SC petitioners banded together under the popular Twitter hashtag #notocybercrimelaw . The same hashtag will be used to cover events related to the January 15 protests and oral arguments.

Bayan is also supporting the “blackout” of websites and profile pictures on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

"The protests on January 15 will be borderless, in the sense that netizens from all over the country, and all over the world, will be joining in one way or another. It will be a day for the aggressive exercise of free speech. It is a day we remind the people who is ultimately responsible for passing and signing the bill. This is a protest against Aquino’s Cybercrime Law,” Reyes said.

The group expressed doubt that Congress will still pass amendments to the law, considering the few session days remaining in the run up to the national elections.

"Without major amendments or without the repeal of the law, the repressive provisions of this measure will take effect once the TRO expires," Reyes said. 

Bayan is also preparing for actions on January 22, the second round of the oral arguments, when the Office of the Solicitor General is set to argue the government's position.

In its comments to the various petitions,  the  OSG has conceded that Section 19 of the law, which  authorizes the DOJ to block access or take down websites even without a court order, is problematic. - Dennis Carcamo