IBP calls respect for the rule of law

CEBU, Philippines - Following the recent defiance of the Department of Justice of the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Supreme Court, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City Chapter is planning to pass a resolution advocating the rule of law.

IBP Cebu City president Earl Bonachita said a copy of the resolution, which they hope to pass within the week, will be sent to the SC, DOJ and IBP national chapter.

Bonachita clarified that they do not support former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo but he believes that the TRO against the watchlist order issued by Secretary Leila De Lima should have been respected and implemented.

He said the SC’s TRO should have been immediately implemented and allowed Arroyo to travel abroad for medication.

Bonachita noted that the issuance of the warrant of arrest against Arroyo on the electoral sabotage case that the joint DOJ-Comelec panel has filed was out of the “ordinary procedure.” He however clarified that it was not also illegal.

He said “here in Cebu usually the judge has 10 days to go over the records of the case to evaluate whether or not there was a probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest.”

The DOJ earlier refused to allow Arroyo to leave the country in spite of the TRO issued by the high tribunal against the watchlist order. De Lima insisted that the order was not yet executory because they are still allowed to file a motion for reconsideration.

Most of the country’s legal luminaries, however, said that the SC’s TRO is not subject to a motion for reconsideration and should be immediately executory.  (FREEMAN)