By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News
Published May 4, 2021 7:15pm
State lawyers on Tuesday defended before the Supreme Court (SC) the power of the government to implement warrantless arrests of persons suspected of committing acts of terrorism.
At the resumption of oral arguments on the petitions seeking to nullify the anti-terror law, Assistant Solicitor General Marissa dela Cruz-Galandines said terrorism must be “nipped in the bud” through warrantless arrests.
“There are instances when the law enforcement agents or the military personnel would not have the luxury of time to go to court and ask for a warrant of arrest. We are dealing with terrorism, Your Honor. Time is of the essence,” she said when asked by SC Associate Justice Edgardo delos Santos whether law enforcers should obtain an arrest warrant from the court.