No TRO vs DOJ-Comelec panel — SC spokesman

The Supreme Court on Tuesday did not issue a temporary restraining order against the joint Department of Justice (DOJ) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) panel that investigated the alleged fraud in the 2007 elections linked to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Instead, the court, in an en banc session, voted 10-4 to consolidate the petitions filed by Mrs. Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, and former Comelec chief Benjamin Abalos questioning the legality of the DOJ-Comelec panel, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said at a press briefing on Tuesday. "The prayer for TRO has not been resolved. The court wants to go over the comments of the government. After oral arguments the prayer will be acted upon," said Marquez. The court scheduled the oral arguments on Nov. 29 and asked the respondents — DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, and members of the panel — to submit their comment before that date. Mrs. Arroyo, now a congresswoman representing the second district of Pampanga, was placed under police custody on Friday hours after Comelec decided to file a case against her for the non-bailable crime of electoral sabotage before a Pasay court. The Comelec built the poll fraud case based on findings by the joint panel that Mrs. Arroyo ordered the rigging of the 2007 elections to favor administration candidates during her incumbency. The former president is currently on hospital arrest at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City. - Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News