Profs. La Viña, Hilbay, and Gatmaytan on Deputy Ombudsman Carandang's "unconstitutional" suspension Three UP Law academics sought for their comments on the Rappler article “Carandang case: Impeachment for Morales or Duterte?” agree that the President’s suspension order against Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang is an “unconstitutional act.” Professors La Viña and Hilbay agree that Ombudsman Morales’ defiance of the order is simply the Ombudsman following the law. For Constitutional Law professor Dan Gatmaytan: “Malacañang got exactly what they wanted, which was to create a controversy for the Supreme Court to rule on.” The full report may be accessed at: https://www.rappler.com/nation/195050-arthur-carandang-suspension-morales-duterte-impeachment  

Prof. Florin Hilbay discusses how the Carandang suspension should reach the Supreme Court In an ABS-CBN News report, Prof. Florin Hilbay discusses how the Carandang suspension should reach the Supreme Court. Contra the Malacañang argument that it is Carandang who should question his suspension in the high court," the former SolGen explained that the Office of the President should be responsible for elevating the issue of the preventive suspension of Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang before the Supreme Court, as "it is the President who seeks to reverse the high court’s 2014 ruling." The report may be accessed at: http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/03/18/who-should-elevate-carandang-suspension-before-supreme-court  

Violate-the-law-now, seek-reversal-later’ attitude anathema to rule of law Professor Florin Hilbay offered this succinct conclusion to the ongoing public discussion on Presidential power to intrude upon the authority of a constitutionally independent Office of the Ombudsman. When interviewed by Inquirer.net on whether the Supreme Court can reverse its decision in Gonzales III v. Office of the President, the former Solicitor General, who teaches Constitutional Law, said: “True, the Supreme Court can reverse its 2014 decision — but that is beside the point. No public official, not even the President, can adopt a ‘violate-the-law-now, seek-reversal-later’ attitude when it comes to decisions…

Prof. JJ Disini on regulating Social Media Professor JJ Disini served as resource speaker during the second hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media conducted on the proliferation of fake, misleading news, and false information online on Tuesday, January 30. He was invited to give his input as a Cyberlaw expert, discussing the issue of “what leverage the Philippine government has with respect to regulating social media, given that a lot of the platforms for social media are not located in the Philippines.” The full hearing may be accessed through https://www.rappler.com/nation/184192-senate-hearing-fake-news-online.  Prof. Disini’s discussion starts at 1:01:32  

Prof. Batongbacal calls for caution and transparency on Marine Scientific Research in West Philippine Sea In an interview by GMA News Report, Prof. Jay Batongbacal commented that the data from Chinese marine research and ocean current surveys could be used for military purposes. The professor reiterates the need for transparency about the results of such endeavors. The Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) was granted permission by the Department of Foreign Affairs to conduct the study, provided that its scientists are joined by Filipinos, among other requirements. The report may be accessed at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/641692/law-expert-warns-data-from-chinese-study-of-phl-seaboard-can-be-used-for-military-purpose/story/?utm_source=GMANews&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=news Related to the topic of…

Prof. Dante Gatmaytan: Numbers Game vs. the Rule of Law? Professor Dante Gatmaytan was interviewed regarding the present “Threat to checks and balances” posed by the latest Presidential act suspending the Deputy Ombudsman in charge of investigating the President’s undeclared wealth. Recounting the voting trend in the Supreme Court, it would seem to be a numbers game versus the rule of law. The Constitutional Law expert discussed the effects of this incursion into the authority of the Office of the Ombudsman and ultimately the Supreme Court. He said that “It doesn’t stop with Carandang. This is an institutional change that they’re after.” He…