The Supreme Court (SC) has clarified that it has not yet issued a final decision on the main petition filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa against Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and other government officials.
In a statement issued on May 24, SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae Ting said the resolution set for release on May 25 only involves the separate opinions on the Court’s earlier denial of the petitioners’ plea for a temporary restraining order or status quo ante order.
The clarification came after reports circulated regarding remarks made by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen during his meeting with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Mindanao State University in Marawi City on May 23.
The Supreme Court said Leonen’s remarks were taken out of context, stressing that the main case filed by Duterte and Dela Rosa remains pending before the tribunal.
The petition named Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and other respondents, with Duterte and Dela Rosa seeking interim relief through a TRO or status quo ante order while the case is being heard.
Ting emphasized that the May 25 release should not be interpreted as a ruling on the merits of the petition, but only as the publication of opinions related to the denial of provisional relief.
The clarification sought to address confusion over the status of the case and to distinguish between the Court’s action on the request for immediate relief and its eventual ruling on the main petition.