Prof. Tony La Viña: "Wrong Premises of ICC Withdrawal" The Philippine Executive  recently announced an immediate withdrawal of its membership from the International Criminal Court. The main argument raised by the Duterte administration is the unenforcability of the Rome Statute in Philippine jurisdiction, due to lack of its publication as required by domestic law. In the first of a 3-part series on the Philippine withdrawal from the ICC, Professor Antonio La Viña begins with a refutation of two grounds invoked by the Government: lack of publication of and alleged fraud. In “Wrong premises of ICC withdrawal,”  Eagle Eyes columnist Tony…

Ex post facto law prohibited under the Constitution: lesson in CrimLaw UP Law Professor JJ Disini provided a short lesson in Criminal Law on a possible unconstitutional application of the Cybercrime Act of 2017. He specifically referred to the cyber libel complaint filed with the DOJ, by the NBI, against officers of Rappler, an online news site. Professor Disini who specializes in the field of cybercrime law pointed to Article III, Section 22 of the Constitution, which directs that “noex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.” He also dismissed the theory that cyber libel was “indubitably…

UP Law academic weighs in on the quo warranto petition filed against the Chief Justice by Solgen Calida Listen to Professor Florin Hilbay's interview with on ABS-CBN's “Headstart” as he explains why a quo warranto petition is not the proper legal procedure to remove an impeachable official holding public office at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcTIey4kqMY. Attorney Hilbay is the immediate past Solicitor General having served under the Aquino administration. He is a Constitutional Law expert known for his writings on the subject.  

Prof. Hilbay retorts on government's call for unity on West Philippine Sea policy Professor Florin Hilbay imparts a short Constitutional lesson in answer to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s appeal to critics “to unite with the Duterte administration on its policy on the West Philippine Sea.” (Access the full Inquirer.Net report at: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/164849/roque-president-will-die-ph-territory) "DYING" FOR THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA ·  x x x ·  3. The President's invitation for China to have "co-ownership" with the Philippines in relation to joint development is totally incompatible with dying for one's territory. ·  The Constitution is clear: "the exploration, development, utilisation of natural resources…