No TRO, mounting calls to inhibit

I wish to call your attention to two errors in your banner story “SC suspends impeachment hearing vs Ombudsman” which appeared yesterday, 15 September 2010, in The Philippine STAR. First, the article erroneously stated that the SC issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) before it issued the status quo ante order. We are not aware of any such TRO having been issued by the SC. Second, it erroneously stated that Rep. Niel C. Tupas Jr., who chairs the House committee on justice, was previously charged by the Ombudsman. For the record, Rep. Tupas Jr. has never been charged by the Ombudsman. I hope you can make the necessary corrections.

In an earlier article on the subject, it was also stated in your paper that there are mounting calls for Rep. Tupas Jr. to inhibit. Please be informed that during the Sept. 1, 2010 meeting of the House committee on justice where the supposed “mounting calls” to inhibit were aired, only two legislators, namely, Rep. Ferj Biron and Rep. Marc Cagas, raised the issue.  To put the matter in its proper perspective, Rep. Biron was the political opponent of Rep. Tupas Jr. in the last elections, while Rep. Cagas was speaking in the interest of his group. Having just two legislators, who clearly have their own personal agenda, raise the issue of Rep. Tupas Jr.’s inhibition can hardly be considered as “mounting”.