Akbayan Party Spokesperson Risa Hontiveros today called on the CorronArroyo 8 and SC spokesperson Midas Marquez to apologize to the public for “enforcing a TRO that was clearly not yet enforceable.”
“The TRO was conditional, and yet the SC tried to implement it despite its own recognition through a 7-6 vote that the Arroyos failed to comply with one of the conditions. It was an omission that violated its own resolution, a grave error that provided GMA an opening to escape. The 'CorronArroyo 8' and Midas should apologize to the Filipino people," Hontiveros demanded.
The former legislator chided the eight justices “for giving Arroyo the legal basis for escaping. Although her attempt to escape was thwarted, the judicial system has been cast in a bad light with the decision of the SC that unduly benefitted Arroyo. Sa nakikita ng taumbayan sa pagkilos ng Otso Arroyo pinaniniwalaan tuloy nila na basta may pera ka at kapangyarihan, ikaw ang papanigan ng hustisya.”
Marquez overstepped his authority
“The duty of the court administrator should not go beyond the established duties and touch on the duties exclusively reserved for Supreme Court Justices. He should have been mindful of the conditions set by the TRO instead of shooting from the hip. The least that he could do is apologize for misinterpreting it,” according to Hontiveros.
Hontiveros said that by interpreting the decision of the SC, “Atty. Midas Marquez was speaking as if he was a justice of the Supreme Court. Because of his misinterpretation of the TRO people have been misinformed about the circumstances of the TRO and were led to believe that GMA was free to evade her cases.”
Hontiveros added that SC Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno also castigated Marquez for such statements “and in the end, not only did he mislead the public but also slighted the Supreme Court itself.”
“His statements which overstepped his authority would not be taken lightly. Marquez should be more circumspect and know his duties as court administrator are not similar to that of a SC Justice.”
On November 15, the high court, voting 8-5, issued a TRO, which, in effect, allowed Arroyo and her husband to go abroad. But the following conditions were set—Arroyo and her husband should post a P2-million cash bond, appoint a legal representative, and inform the Philippine embassy or consulate in the country they intended to visit. SC Associate Justice Sereno stated in her dissenting opinion that the TRO was conditional and since one of the conditions was not met, namely the appointment of a legal representative, the TRO was suspended. ###
 |
 |
 |
