Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra —INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said the government would implement Executive Order No. 62, which lowers the tariff on imported rice and other agricultural products unless the Supreme Court (SC) restrains it.
The SC ordered the government, through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), to comment on the petition filed by several agri groups against the EO’s implementation.
SC Spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae Ting said the order to comment was issued following the magistrates’ full court session last Tuesday.
“The Court without giving due course to the petition and prayer for TRO, required the respondents to file their comments within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice,” Ting said at a press conference.
The government is required to comment on the prayer for a temporary restraining order as well as the main prayer of nullifying the EO.
“We have received a copy of the petition, but we have not received a copy of the SC resolution requiring us to comment. Be that as it may, the OSG is presently studying the legal issues involved,” Guevarra said.
READ: Supreme Court asked to nullify EO 62 lowering tariffs on agri products
The petitioners immediately welcomed the Court’s decision to compel respondents to comment on their petition and urged Marcos Jr. and the other respondents to halt the implementation of the order pending the SC decision on the merits of the case.
“SINAG and the whole agri sector welcome the order of the Supreme Court in requiring the respondents to file their comments within 10 days,” SINAG chair Rosendo So said.
“Considering that the matter of the constitutionality/validity of EO 62 is now pending before the SC, the pendency of this legal action should be respected by the respondents; defer any action in relation to EO 62 and, give due respect to the SC,” the group said.