Defiant DOJ gives SC men ‘runaround’

Even after it formally received a copy of the order on Wednesday, the Department of Justice kept defying the Supreme Court by refusing to implement a temporary restraining order that would allow former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave the country to receive medical treatment abroad. In a radio interview, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima also said she is ready to face contempt charges that may be filed against her by Mrs. Arroyo’s camp for her order. “Siyempre titingnan ko ang kopya ng TRO, then tuloy ang plano na mag-file ng urgent motion for reconsideration. Ang position namin since meron siyang reconsideration huwag muna ipilit ang implement ng TRO," De Lima told dzBB radio. Also, she said that until the issue is resolved, her directive to the Bureau of Immigration will be to recognize the watch list order (WLO) on Mrs. Arroyo and not the TRO. “Yan directive ko pa rin (sa BI), na i-recognize muna ang WLO and not the TRO dahil may motion for reconsideration.," she said. "Until ma-resolve ang motion for reconsideration, that directive stays." TRO process server given ‘runaround’ A report by dzBB’s Carlo Mateo said a representative from the high court tried to issue the DOJ a copy of the TRO but was given the runaround. The report said the SC representative was directed from one office to another until he had it received by the Office of the Secretary of Justice. But De Lima belittled the portion of the TRO that said the DOJ is “enjoined from enforcing or implementing" the WLO. “Yan naman talaga ang usual phrases o language ng TRO. But hindi naman pupuwede sa lahat na kaso you always apply the general rule (That is the usual phrase used by TROs. But you cannot apply the general rule for all cases)," she said. Instead, she said the DOJ has to consider the “specific peculiar facts and circumstances" of the case. SC issues TRO On Tuesday afternoon, the high court issued a TRO against the WLO on Mrs. Arroyo, but De Lima ordered immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to block the former Philippine leader from taking a flight to Singapore. SC spokesman Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said they may ask the DOJ to explain why it did not comply with the high court’s order, and order the DOJ to comply. But De Lima argued that stopping the implementation of the WLO at this time would be tantamount to declaring the WLO as unconstitutional. Also, she said there are oral arguments on the issue scheduled for next week. "Prudence dictates dapat hintayin muna ang oral arguments. Meron naman silang in-schedule na oral arguments next week. Bakit kailangan mag-issue ng TRO at this point," she said. Contempt charges De Lima said she is prepared to face contempt charges over her actions. “I take full responsibility," she said. “Kung pwede, ako na lang kasuhan nila, ako ang nagbigay ng directive. Paninindigan natin yan (If they want to file charges, they should file charges against only me because I was the one who gave that directive. I will stand by it)." — MRT/RSJ, GMA News