MANILA, Philippines ? The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of an Army general, who sought the lifting of his six-month suspension and detention pending the court-martial proceedings against him for alleged extortion.

In a 21-page decision, the third division of the high tribunal upheld the appellate court?s ruling upholding the suspension meted on Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto by the Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices and the order for his arrest issued by former Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano.

The Supreme Court ruled that Barbieto?s petition against his suspension had been rendered moot and academic as the sanction ended in August last year. Norman Bordadora