A PETITION that could have blocked the Philippine government from cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which ordered the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was denied.

The Supreme Court’s (SC) decision denying the immediate issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) came a day after Duterte was arrested by ICC for alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s war on drugs.

According to SC spokesperson Camille Ting, the High Court decided upon deliberating the 94-page petition filed by the former president and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

“After a virtual deliberation on the 94-page petition, the SC found that the petitioners failed to establish a clear and unmistakable right for the immediate issuance of a TRO,” Ting said in a statement.

In a report by the Inquirer, Ting said the SC then directed the respondents to comment on the petition within 10 days from notice.

However, the SC clarified that it only denied the “immediate” release of the TRO, stating that the overall request for a TRO is “still a possibility.”

Dela Rosa filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition and asked the Supreme Court to prevent the government from assisting the ICC in any way on the same day that Duterte was arrested.

The petition also seeks to have the SC order the immediate release of any individuals arrested amid the ICC investigation, the Inquirer report stated.

As of this writing, Duterte is en route to The Hague to face trial in ICC.

• Tags
• #Supreme Court
• #International Criminal Court
• #ICC
• #Rodrigo Duterte
• #Temporary Restraining Order
• #Camille Ting
• #Crimes against humanity
• #War on drugs
• #Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
• #The Hague