MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) did not issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) in relation to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.
“After a virtual deliberation on the 94-page petition, the SC found that the petitioners failed to establish a clear and unmistakable right for the immediate issuance of a TRO,” SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting said in a statement on Wednesday, March 12.
However, the SC still ordered the respondents — Senator Ronald dela Rosa and the Philippine government — to comment on the petition within 10 days, filed by the longtime Duterte ally on Tuesday. Dela Rosa sought the relief the same day the former president was arrested.
Dela Rosa filed the petition for certiorari and prohibition with the SC to question Duterte’s arrest through an International Criminal Court-issued (ICC) warrant, marking the start of the former president’s legal battle. The camp also requested for the TRO, and/or writ of preliminary prohibitory and mandatory injunction, that could have blocked the former president’s arrest.
However, Duterte was already flown to the Hague, Netherlands shortly past 11 pm on Tuesday night. The former president was arrested earlier that day over crimes against humanity case pending before the ICC, which coursed the arrest through the Interpol.
The SC’s confirmation about the TRO petition’s status also dispelled the misinformation that circulated last night that a TRO had been issued to block the former president’s departure for the ICC. – Rappler.com