WE HAVE JUST WITNESSED HOW THE SUPREME COURT PROTECT THE CORRUPT AND NOT FOR THE INTEREST OF ALL FILIPINOS. WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE LAWYERS TO CONCLUDE THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS FULL OF ROTTEN JUSTICES.
SC affirms TRO; MIKE ARROYO FREE TO LEAVE
By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star) Updated November 19, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) affirmed yesterday its temporary restraining order (TRO) on the travel ban on former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but said a court order for her arrest now prevented her from leaving the country.
"She is now barred from leaving because of the arrest warrant," SC spokesman Midas Marquez told reporters in a news briefing at 5 p.m. after Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas issued the arrest warrant five hours after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) filed the case.
But Arroyo's husband, former first gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, is free to travel abroad since he was cleared due to lack of evidence linking him to the poll fraud.
Marquez explained that the issuance of the arrest warrant effectively settled the issue on whether or not Rep. Arroyo could be allowed to leave the country.
"RTCs are independent from the Supreme Court. They're free to decide cases," he said.
He, however, clarified that the case in the RTC is different from the one to be resolved by the high court where a temporary restraining order (TRO) was affirmed enjoining the Department of Justice (DOJ) from implementing its earlier watchlist order (WLO) against Arroyo.
Marquez stressed that the SC would still determine the constitutionality of the WLO and Department Circular No. 41, which gave Justice Secretary Leila de Lima power to issue the hold order.
Asked about the regularity of the arrest warrant issued by Mupas considering questions on haste of the issuance, the SC official opted not to comment but explained that determination of probable cause in the charges would be important.
"Upon initial study, the judge thought everything in the preliminary investigation was proper. But the Supreme Court has adjudicative power and can review decisions of lower courts," he added.
The Comelec filed the case for electoral sabotage against Rep. Arroyo, former provincial elections supervisor Lintang Bedol and former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. for allegedly rigging results in senatorial elections in Maguindanao in 2007 polls.
The filing of the information was approved by Comelec commissioners in session upon recommendation of the joint DOJ-Comelec panel that conducted the preliminary investigation.
Arroyo was charged primarily based on testimony of former provincial administrator Norie Unas, who claimed he had heard the former president instruct Ampatuan to ensure 12-0 victory of Team Unity in his province during an event in the Palace days before the 2007 polls.
Arroyo failed to submit her answer during the two-hearing preliminary investigation by the joint panel that did not grant her plea to have more time to file a counter-affidavit.
"We are convinced that they were just compelled to follow orders of the two powerful and influential persons in the field of election in Maguindanao, the unopposed governor and their head of office, the
provincial election supervisor. However, for implementing an apparently illegal order, they must be administratively sanctioned," read the 28-page joint resolution of the joint panel chaired by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.
The joint panel likewise recommended the indictment of Arroyo, former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., his chief-of-staff Jaime Paz,
and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) Captain Peter Reyes for a separate case of electoral sabotage in North and South Cotabato provinces also during the 2007 polls.
Cases vs Abalos
The Comelec, however, was still readying the 11 counts of electoral sabotage against Abalos, who sought relief from the SC yesterday.
In a supplemental manifestation on supervening events and very urgent motion for issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO), Abalos through lawyer Brigido Dulay told the court that he is "in grave and imminent jeopardy of being indicted and incarcerated without due process and equal protection of the law even before his petition could be heard" by the 15-member bench.
Read more..
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=749709&publicationSubCateg...
Loading...
1:35
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Ipinaaresto na ng Korte!by PinoyTeleseryeOnline5,070 views
It seems in the Philippines, you are GUILTY until you are proven INNOCENT. So sad, if you're just an ordinary citizen, you can get jailed even for no apparent reason. :(
markgogone 2 months ago 2
secretary of injustice
maseraticrg 2 months ago
@34jcc What makes you different from her?
gimmick59 2 months ago
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!!
tweety7241968 2 months ago
ulol... "respect" according to my elementary grade teacher is earned, not demanded through "show cause order"..... you have to make yourself respectable first before you can demand it from others.
34jcc 3 months ago
@gimmick59
tweety7241968 3 months ago
I concur with the commentator below me.
akosim002080 3 months ago
It is not the supreme court to blame it is de lima.. What will be the basis of a hold order departure? its a case filed against you. There was no case.de lima must answered for her disregard to the supreme court order she is not above the law. Study your constitution your eagerness to put Gloria behind bars blinded your line of reasoning.
gimmick59 3 months ago