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Arpilleda, Mera Princess E. 2. Covid-19 Has Disrupted Everyone's Activities. in Response To The Crisis

The document discusses the role of rule of law during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. It notes that the Philippine president was granted emergency powers through the Bayanihan Act to respond to the crisis. While these powers have limited individual rights, they have also enabled measures that have helped battle the pandemic, such as business closures, movement restrictions, and increased testing. It argues that in emergencies, individual rights must be considered in the context of protecting society as a whole, and that rule of law provides the justification for temporary emergency powers to allow an effective governmental response.

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83 views2 pages

Arpilleda, Mera Princess E. 2. Covid-19 Has Disrupted Everyone's Activities. in Response To The Crisis

The document discusses the role of rule of law during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. It notes that the Philippine president was granted emergency powers through the Bayanihan Act to respond to the crisis. While these powers have limited individual rights, they have also enabled measures that have helped battle the pandemic, such as business closures, movement restrictions, and increased testing. It argues that in emergencies, individual rights must be considered in the context of protecting society as a whole, and that rule of law provides the justification for temporary emergency powers to allow an effective governmental response.

Uploaded by

Mera Arpilleda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Arpilleda, Mera Princess E.

2. Covid-19 has disrupted everyone’s activities. In response to the crisis,

governments across the globe have used their emergency powers, but the exercise of

emergency powers are not without issues from constitutional and human rights

lenses. In your view, how is law relevant or important in this health crisis? What

is the role of rule of law norm in battling the pandemic?

In the rule of law, laws apply to everyone equally. Both the government and the

people should follow them. Powerful people should not be exempted just because of

their social status, or because they have a lot of money. Government officials

shouldn’t be able to be above the law just because they created them. The

government cannot do whatever it wants and must follow the rules and laws that have

already been set.

In the Philippines, President Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11469

otherwise known as the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or simply Bayanihan Act

which grants the President with wide range of temporary powers and discretion to

direct, adopt and implement measures to respond to the health threat and disruption

of economic activities during this world pandemic crisis.

With the Bayanihan Act put into law, the role of the rule of law norm provides legal

justification for the use of emergency powers by the President which is very vital in

battling the pandemic. Different measures have been adopted and implemented to

prevent and suppress further spread of Covid-19. These include the closure of schools

and a lot of business establishments (thus paralyzing broad range of economic

activity), the closure of borders, the limitations of the people’s movements, and

putting the country in enhance community quarantine for a certain period of time. It
is true that many of these imposed limitations and measures have affected and

decisively reduced constitutionally established individual rights. Thus its legality

have been questioned by those who thought of it as just another abuse to government

power, claiming it is in violation of human rights. Human rights of course is

considered fundamental and must be uphold and protected at all times. However,

fundamental rights though considered essential, are not absolute. Everyone and

his/her individual rights as part of the existing laws, cannot be seen in isolation but

must be considered within the context of his/her social function as part of the society

as a whole.

Besides, it’s not that these limitations have been imposed without careful

consideration from the law makers and government officials from all government

units --local and national. As the virus spreads rapidly across the country, another

measure taken is the expediting and streamlining of the accreditation of testing kits,

facilitating prompt testing, and compulsory and immediate isolation and treatment of

Covid-19 patients. All public and private medical establishments and facilities and

hotels are also utilized, relief goods and financial aid and support from the

government have been distributed, and a lot more.

The rule of law is very vital to the government’s ability to respond and handle

emergencies efficiently and effectively. The suspension of exercise of rights,

freedoms and guarantees is no question a serious case but the situation calls for it. A

little sacrifice for a greater good.

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