Japan deal opponents turn to SC
Rey E. Requejo
Manila Standard
Civil rights and environmental groups have asked the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order to stop the Philippine government from making the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement final and binding.
In a 54-page petition, the groups asked the 15-member bench to nullify the treaty with Japan for being unconstitutional because it will open the floodgates to the entry of toxic waste from Japan.
The groups wanted the high court to enjoin the Senate from transmitting its resolution of concurrence to the deal with Japan and to stop President Arroyo from firming up the treaty.
The petitioners include Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc., Alliance of Progressive Labor, Ecological Coalition of the Philippines, Mother Earth Foundation, Concerned Citizens Against Pollution, NGOs for Fisheries Reform, Kilusan Para sa Pagpaunlad ng Industriya ng Pangisdaan, Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party and Philippine Metal Workers Alliance.
Named respondents to the complaint were 16 senators who voted for the treaty, namely: Senate President Manuel Villar, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Mar Roxas, Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Alan Peter Cayetano, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan II, Panfilo Lacson, Manuel Lapid, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Juan Miguel Zubiri.
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