SC fails to ratify Sereno TRO on partylists

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court failed to ratify the order of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno that stopped the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from further proclaiming partylist candidate winners.

The high court en banc (full court) session discussed the restraining order issued by Sereno following a letter by Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro who questioned the TRO.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno AP FILE PHOTO

In her letter, De Castro said her recommendation to restrain Comelec from implementing its ruling that nullifies the participation of the Senior Citizens group in the partylist polls was ignored by Sereno.

De Castro said Sereno’s blanket TRO  adversely covered the remaining winners in the partylist balloting who were not impleaded in the case.

High Court Information Chief Theodore Te said the high court will continue its discussion on the restraining order on Wednesday.

“The SC will continue discussion on this tomorrow (Wednesday) because the agenda for today [Tuesday’s] session was too long with the SC having just come from its recess,” Te said at a press conference.