Supreme Court won’t lift hold order vs ex-Pagcor chair Efraim Genuino

Former Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (Pagcor) chair Efraim Genuino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Former Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (Pagcor) chair Efraim Genuino has failed to get a reprieve from the Supreme Court regarding the hold-departure order (HDO) that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had issued against him and his two children.

Unlike in the case of Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, the tribunal did not act on Genuino’s petition for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block the implementation of the HDO.

Instead, the court directed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the Bureau of Immigration, Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III and Pagcor chair Cristino Naguiat Jr. to file their respective comment within 10 days upon receipt of the court notice.

The single-page order was dated Aug. 23, but was released to the media only Wednesday.

The magistrates said the resolution was issued “without giving due course to the petition.”

In his petition for certiorari and prohibition, Genuino said the Department of Justice (DOJ) Circular 41, which De Lima cited as basis in signing the HDO, “is an exercise of arbitrary power, enforcing its edicts to the injury of the persons and property of the citizens.”

The justice secretary prevented Genuino, son Erwin and daughter Sheryl from leaving the country in connection with various criminal cases they were facing in the DoJ and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Sought for comment, De Lima welcomed the high court’s decision not to immediately grant Genuino’s prayer for a TRO.

“Of course, that’s a good development for us. That means the court sees that there’s no need to restrain (us) because we will have to defend our position through the comment of the DoJ,” she said.