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Supreme Court refuses to stay Arroyo's emergency proclamation
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to issue a temporary restraining order on President Gloria Arroyo's declaration of the state of national emergency, as requested by various groups, a court spokesman said.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:00 March 1, 2006
Manila: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to issue a temporary restraining order on President Gloria Arroyo's declaration of the state of national emergency, as requested by various groups, a court spokesman said.
The apex court scheduled oral arguments on March 7, to hear all those who questioned Arroyo's proclamation, said Court spokesman Ismael Khan, adding that all petitioners were told to submit their arguments on Monday.
Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said that Arroyo might recall her emergency powers on Saturday if there is no longer a threat to national security.
"We will assess the situation again. We'll see if there will be a decision by Saturday. It is possible that there will be changes by then," said Teves.
Arroyo's security advisers are monitoring the situation nationwide, said Teves. The expected turnaround was prompted by the wide criticism received by Arroyo's proclamation.
Fifteen senators, including her allies had denounced it. They also vowed to pass a "remedial legislation" to stop a president's abuse of power.
The United States earlier said the emergency declaration should be lifted as soon as possible.
The lawyer of the Daily Tribune newspaper, whose office was raided by police on Saturday, filed a petition for a temporary restraining order against Arroyo's proclamation. Former senator Loren Legarda, who lost in a vice-presidential bid in 2004, also filed a petition which questioned Arroyo's proclamation.
On Monday, a group of lawyers and an activist group led by professor Randy David filed their respective petitions opposing the proclamation.
The president has illegally exercised martial law powers with her proclamation, said the Alternative Law Group.
Critics and civil libertarians said the proclamation was unconstitutional and had no congressional approval. The ban on rallies seriously curtailed political freedoms and the threat to takeover utilities was a bane of press freedom, they said.
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