MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday denied a petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, ruling that the petitioners failed to show clear and unmistakable right warranting immediate injunctive relief.Following a virtual deliberation on the 94-page petition, the High Court instead directed the respondents to submit their comments within the prescribed timeframe, signaling further legal scrutiny of the case.The petition for certiorari and prohibition was filed before the SC at 4:27 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, just hours after Duterte was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The petition seeks to prevent government agencies from assisting in any ICC investigation related to the country's anti-drug campaign.Named as respondents in the case are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director General Nicolas Torre III, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr.The petition was immediately raffled to a Member-in-Charge as directed by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo. Later that evening, at 11:17 p.m., the court also received a Very Urgent Manifestation with a Reiterative Prayer for the Issuance of a TRO and/or Writ of Preliminary Injunction, which was duly noted by the Court.The legal battle escalated on Wednesday when the SC received two separate petitions for a writ of habeas corpus concerning the former president. Duterte's children, Sebastian Duterte and Veronica Duterte, filed these petitions, seeking a judicial order compelling Bersamin and other respondents to produce their father and justify his alleged detention.In response, Chief Justice Gesmundo ordered a special raffle, assigning the cases to a Member-in-Charge for appropriate action.
The Manila Times
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