THE Supreme Court is set to tackle the petition questioning the legality of the Reproductive Health law on Tuesday when it holds its first session for the 2013.

The petition filed by couple James and Lovely Imbong was included in the January 8 agenda of the High Court.

The case is set for the disposition of the court en banc. Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza will write the tribunal’s decision.

Today, the court en banc will discuss if it will issue a temporary restraining order stopping the implementation of the new law.

The Imbong couple claimed in their 25-page petition that the law, which was signed by President Benigno Aquino 3rd just before Christmas, violates the Constitution.

They said that the health law, which promotes better maternal care, responsible parenthood and youth education on sexual and reproductive health issues, “mocks the nation’s Filipino culture.”

The tribunal en banc is also set to discuss today the Judicial Affidavit Rule (JAR), which became controversial when Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno contradicted the circular issued by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez that the implementation of the new judicial affidavit was deferred for a year.

Associate Justice Roberto Abad was said to have ordered the suspension of the application of the JAR in view of the appeal of the Prosecutors’ League of the Philippines.

However, the High Tribunal’s Public Information Office came out with a statement saying that Sereno has directed that the request be included in the agenda of the court en banc on its first session of the year.