De Lima ready to defend before SC her power to issue watch-list order

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday expressed disappointment at the Supreme Court’s decision stopping the implementation of the watch-list order she had issued against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

De Lima said that while she was disappointed, she was not surprised that a temporary restraining order (TRO) has been issued by the Supreme Court because this would be the first time that such power of the secretary of justice was used.

De Lima said she saw the TRO as an opportunity “to defend such power [to issue a watch-list order] of the (DoJ) secretary and to let this matter be settled once and for all.”

“It’s a challenge to us to prepare and articulate before the Supreme Court solid and convincing arguments in support of our position,” she said in a text message.

“It’s a challenge to us to prepare and articulate before the SC solid and convincing arguments in support of our position,” she added.

Voting 13-0, the high court unanimously granted Arroyo’s petition for a TRO against his being placed on the watchlist, questioning the constitutionality of De Lima’s August 4 order.

De Lima issued the order after Arroyo was identified as the owner of second-hand helicopters that were sold as brand new to the Philippine National Police  2009. No case has as yet been filed against Arroyo, husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, on the helicopter sale.

First posted 3:18 pm | Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011