Duterte, Dela Rosa fail to establish right for immediate TRO issuance - SC

Metro Manila, Philippines - Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bato dela Rosa failed to “establish a right” to secure a stay order on the arrest of the former chief executive to face an international tribunal, the Supreme Court (SC) said on Wednesday, March 12.

In filing a 94-page petition with the SC, Duterte and dela Rosa sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) after the former president was arrested based on an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

“The SC found that the petitioners failed to establish a clear and unmistakable right for the immediate issuance of a TRO,” SC spokesperson Camille Ting said in a statement.

“However, the SC has directed the respondents to comment on the petition with prayer for TRO and/or writ of preliminary injunction within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice,” she added.

Ting said there is still a possibility that a TRO would be released.

The petition challenged the government’s cooperation with the ICC despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in March 2019 that created the judicial body.

The ICC coursed through its arrest warrant through the International Criminal Police Organization, which the country is a member of.

As of posting, Duterte is on his way to Rotterdam, Netherlands.