High Court OKs Arroyo travel
Posted at 11/15/2011 12:58 PM | Updated as of 11/15/2011 9:24 PM
Palace to file motion for reconsideration
MANILA, Philippines (6th UPDATE) - The Supreme Court (SC) voted 8-5 to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the watch list order (WLO) against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband, SC spokesman Midas Marquez announced Tuesday.
Only 13 magistrates voted.
The 8 are: Chief Justice Renato Corona, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, and Jose Perez.
The 5 who did not vote in favor of the decision are: Senior Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justices Maria Lourdes Sereno, Bienvenido Reyes, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Jose Mendoza.
Two are on leave: Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo de Castro and Mariano del Castillo.
In a press conference, Marquez said majority of the magistrates believe that “it might probably work as an injustice to them of their continued inclusion in the WLO…Majority is of the thought that the TRO is consistent with the constitutional presumption of innocence.”
He said, however, that the TRO can be lifted anytime if the high court deems forthcoming arguments sufficient to counter those of the couple. Oral arguments have been set on November 22 at 2:00 p.m.
In a press conference in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Office of the Solicitor General will file a motion for reconsideration, which will seek a lifting of the TRO.
Requirements
Marquez said the couple can leave anytime as long as they comply with the requisites, including the filing of a bond worth P2 million.
The Arroyos, whose petitions were consolidated, were also ordered to appoint a legal representative who shall receive all necessary pleadings and summons from the court.
Once they are in a foreign country, they are to report to the embassy or consulate there of their actions and movements.
The TRO is “conditional,” which means that the other respondents included in the particular WLO are not included. The DOJ also issued the WLO against 41 other respondents in connection with electoral sabotage raps.
Marquez said if the prosecutors hearing the electoral sabotage complaint decides to file a case in court, the government can file a manifestation of it before the high court.
He reiterated that the TRO is just a “provisional” remedy.
He said the full court meeting today was “unusually longer” than previous ones.
The Arroyo couple earlier filed separate petitions asking the Supreme Court to issue a TRO on the Department of Justice watch list order. The WLO prevents the Arroyos from leaving the country without government permission.
The Arroyo couple also urged the Court to declare as unconstitutional Department of Justice Circular 41 which gives the Justice Secretary powers to issue travel restrictions.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had turned down the former President's petition for allow departure order, saying she found no compelling reason to allow Arroyo to leave the country.
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This is all so predictable.
This is all so predictable. The SC's decision is clearly political in favor of the Arroyos. This SC is owned by the Arroyos, there is no doubt about that. The SC could have waited for a few days for the government’s oral argument but instead it rushed a TRO against the DOJ in order to give the Arroyos their escape. The SC knows full well the ongoing investigations against the Arroyos by the DOJ but Corona decides to help his true master (Gloria) instead of the Filipino people.
This is the time when I can
This is the time when I can say that I am ashamed to be a Filipino. Corona? Supreme Court? You are a JOKE!
High Court OKs Arroyos travel
Kailan kaya matututo ang administration na ito? Madalas na hilaw ang sinaing.
Go to HELL
I hope your next trip will be in Hell! Pahirapan sana kayo ng mga sakit niyo (kung meron man) bago kayo mamatay. Mangyari rin sana na mahirapan at babuyin sa eskwwelahan ang inyong mga apo at magiging apo pa.
To Supreme Court justices who voted for GMA I cursed you that you'll have all the difficulties in life extending to up to your families. We will never forget you, what you did is a clear mockery of law.
go! go! PGMA
Pano yan De Lima pahiya ka na naman, magsama kayo ng Presidente mong Penoy, sisipsip ka lang sa BOBO pa, Hanggang ngayon wala pa ring magandang magawa para s bansa. Minsan naman mag isip muna kayo bago kayo mag decide.
Kung sino-sino sinisisi nyo
Kung sino-sino sinisisi nyo sa TRO pinalabas ng SC, kung sinampa na sana nina de Lima sa korte ang kaso laban sa mga Arroyo upang ito'y maglabas ng HDO. Yan ang tamang proceso. Dapat si de Lima ang sisihin nyo sa kupad at inupu-an ang kanyang trabaho.
Let their names be remembered
These justices who are a party to these dark times in our history should be held liable once real justice comes. We could read their minds days before.
That they have no shame is a choice they made, and so their families must live with their names etched in our minds. Let their names be remembered.
High Court OKs Arroyo travel, TRO being drafted
why am i NOT surprised? #shame
best actress gloria arroyo
nagwagi na nman ang kasamaan,wala ng kredibilidad ang supreme court sa tin,sagabal kay pres.noynoy ang supreme court,kung ano ang itinatama sya ang ginagawang mali pati mga kaalyado nya na wala na ring pakialam sa mga kaso ni gma sa dami ng nakurakot nila,kawawa nman mga mamamayan na umaasa sa hustisya at katotohanan,siguro gagaling lang si gloria pag wala na si aquino sa pwesto at dun lang sya babalik..sayang nasa wastong daan si noynoy pero lagi nakakagawa ng paraan ang kasamaan,obvious umaarte lang at gumagawa ng paraan para makaiwas sa mga kaso nya..