Back

Jose Jesus M. Disini, Jr., et al., Vs. The Secretary of Justice, et al./Louis “Barok” C. Biraogo Vs. National Bureau of Investigation, et al./ Alab Ng Mamamahayag (ALAM), et al. Vs. Office of the President, et al./ Senator Teofisto Dl Guingona III Vs. The Executive Secretary, et al./ Alexander Adonis, et al. Vs. The Executive Secretary, et al./Hon. Raymond V. Palatino, et al. Vs. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al./Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato M. Reyes, Jr., et al. Vs. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, et al./ Melencio S. Sta. Maria, et al. Vs. Hon. Paquito Ochoa, et al./National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, et al.Vs. The Executive Secretary, et al./Paul Cornelius T. Castillo, et al.,Vs. The Hon. Secretary of Justice, et al./Anthony Ian M. Cruz, et al. Vs. His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III, et al./Philippine Bar Association, Inc., Vs. His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III, et al./Bayan Muna Representative Neri J. Colmenares Vs. The Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., /National Press Club Of The Philippines, Inc., Represented By Benny D. Antiporda in his Capacity as President and in his Personal Capacity Vs. Office of the President, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, et al. Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance, et al. Vs. The Executive Secretary, et al. [Dissenting and Concurring Opinion C.J. Sereno]

G.R. No. 203335 -JOSE JESUS M. DISINI, JR., et al., Petitioners, v. THE SECRETARY OF JUSTICE, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203299 - LOUIS "Barok" C. BIRAOGO, Petitioner, v. NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203306 - ALAB NG MAMAMAHA Y AG (ALAM), et al., Petitioners, v. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203359 - SENATOR TEOFISTO DL GUINGONA III, Petitioner, v. THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203378- ALEXANDER ADONIS, et al., Petitioners, v. THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203391 - HON. RAYMOND V. PALATINO, et al., Petitioners, v. HON. PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR., et al._. Respondents; G.R. No. 203407 - BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN SECRETARY GENERAL RENATO M. REYES, JR., et al., Petitioners, v. BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203440 - MELENCIO S. STA. MARIA, et al., Petitioners, v. HON. PAQUITO OCHOA, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203453 - NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES, et al., Petitioners, v. THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203454 - PAUL CORNELIUS T. CASTILLO, et al., Petitioners, v. THE HON. SECRETARY OF JUSTICE, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203469 - ANTHONY IAN M. CRUZ, et al., Petitioners, v. HIS EXCELLENCY BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203501 - PHILIPPINE BAR ASSOCIATION, INC., Petitioner, v. HIS EXCELLENCY BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203509 - BA YAN MUNA REPRESENTATIVE NERI J. COLMENARES, Petitioner, v. THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY PAQUITO OCHOA, JR., Respondent; G.R. No. 203515 - NATIONAL PRESS CLUB OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC., represented by BENNY D. ANTIPORDA in his capacity as President and in his personal capacity, Petitioner, v. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON AQUINO III, et al., Respondents; G.R. No. 203518 - PHILIPPINE INTERNET FREEDOM ALLIANCE, et al., Petitioners v. THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, et al., Respondents. [Dissenting and Concurring Opinion C.J. Sereno]

G.R. No. 203335/G.R. No. 203299/G.R. No. 203306/G.R. No. 203359/G.R. No. 203378/G.R. No. 203391/G.R. No. 203407/G.R. No. 203340/G.R. No. 203453/G.R. No. 203454 | 2014-04-22

EN BANC
Baguio City
 
DISSENTING AND CONCURRING OPINION

SERENO, CJ:
 
Freedoms such as these are protected not only against heavy-handed frontal attack, but also from being stifled by more subtle governmental interference.

Justice Potter Stewart1
 
Nothing can be more plain and unambiguous than the Constitutional command that “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.” The Constitution’s mantle of protection is not limited to...