SC issues TRO enjoining House of Representatives' contempt order against Gov. Mamba
August 24, 2023
The Supreme Court En Banc (“Court”) during its deliberations today, 24 August 2023, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, the House of Representatives Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, the House of Representatives Sergeant-at-Arms, and all persons acting in their behalf, in connection with the Contempt Order and Detention Order, both dated 17 August 2023, issued against petitioner Manuel M. Mamba. The Court also furnished a copy of the TRO to P/Col. Julio S. Gorospe Jr., Provincial Director of the Cagayan Police Provincial Office, considering that the House of Representatives Sergeant-at-Arms furnished him a copy of said Orders for implementation thereof.
In G.R. No. 268540 (Manuel M. Mamba v. House of Representative Committee on Public Accounts, represented by Hon. Joseph Stephen S. Paduano, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts; House of Representatives Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, represented by Hon. Jonathan Keith T. Flores, Vice-Chairperson and Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms; and PMGEN. Napoleon C. Taas (Ret.), in his capacity as House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms), petitioner sought for: (1) the declaration of unconstitutionality and nullity of the Contempt Order and Detention Order, both dated 17 August 2023, issued against him; and (2) the issuance of, among others, a TRO, preventing those aforementioned from complying with and implementing said Orders, until further orders from the Court. The petition was received by the Court at 3:14 p.m. of 22 August 2023, and was raffled to the Member-in-Charge on the following day, 23 August 2023.
The Court also ordered the Respondents to comment on the petition within a non-extendible period of five (5) days from receipt of notice.