Lawyers Mumbo Jumbo

PHRASE: Ordinatio Repressiva Brevis - Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) 

MEANING: In law, TRO is a court order that temporarily prevents a person or entity from taking a specific action in a specified time frame, usually issued in emergency situations or as a stopgap measure before a more formal hearing on a preliminary injunction.

A temporary restraining order (TRO) is issued ex parte by an executive judge in the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Court of Appeals, or the Supreme Court. It is a provisional remedy where the court orders the litigant to perform or refrain from performing a particular act to prevent grave injustice and irreparable injury. 

Another purpose is to maintain the status quo by restraining the defendant or the court officer from contacting or harming the plaintiff.

Once the TRO expires, it can not be extended beyond the specified period.

In Tagalog, ang TRO ay isang pansamantalang kautusan mula sa korte na nagbabawal or pumipigil sa isang tao o partido na gumawa ng isang partikular na aksyon o aktibidad. Anf TRO ay karaniwang inilabas upang mapanatili ang status quo habang hinihintay ang isang mas detalyadong pagdinig o desisyon sa isang kaso.

Halimbawa kung may isang aksyon na maaring magdulot ng malubhang pinsala sa isang partido, maaring magpetisyon ang isa sa mga partido sa korte upang humiling ng TRO upang pansamantalang ihinto ang aksyon habang dinidinig pa ang kaso.

Ang TRO ay limitado sa panahon at maaring tumagal lamang ng ilang araw hanggang ilang linggo, depende sa batas o sa desisyon ng korte.

EXAMPLE: Ang balita sa DZMM Teleradyo tungkol sa impeachment ni VP Sara ... wala raw TRO na hiningi galing sa Supreme Court para ihinto ito ... kaya malaya daw ang Senate to proceed with impeachment.

Now Na Or Bukas Na?

Mga argumentong kailangang plantsahin ng Senado.

Whether to do something immediately or later depends on the specific task and the Senate's circumstances.

"Gawin kaagad" (do it immediately) is generally more effective for tasks that are quick, simple, or have a short deadline, as it prevents procrastination and maintains momentum.

However, "mamaya na" (do it later) might be preferable for complex tasks, tasks that require more focus, or when you need time to prepare or gather resources, according to some online resources.

In the impeachment of Sara Duterte, the Senate found itself entangled in these positions at one time or another, and people are wondering what they are up to. Parang may tinatago ... na ayaw pabuko ... pero obvious naman na may motibo ... sabi ng mga nagtataka sa kanilang mga antics.

Noong isinabmit na ang impeachment complaint sa Senado halata mong umiiwas ang tinatawag nilang last bastion of democracy sa Pilipinas. Ang nagiging vocal lang at that time ay ang Senate President at kinukuwestion pa na wala silang panahon ... (o wrong timing) ang iba ay busy on the campaign trail ... at yong iba naman ay nasa bakasyon.

Urong sulong sila ... at lahat na yata ng remedyo in the Senate book ay ginawa na nila. DELAY the process at all cost. yon ang kanilang battlecry.

Pati ang salitang forthwith ay ginawang buzzword ... at buong tapang nilang pinaglaruan. Para silang may hinihintay na kung ano ... na sila lang ang nakaalam. Basta i-delay natin and we are good.

Their mandate in the impeachment process is to try and decide whether to acquit or convict. Mukha yatang, this is too gargantuan for them to do ... eh bakit pa sila naging Senador? Wala namang pumipilit sa kanila?

After a lot of postponements at rescheduling ... hilong talilong na ang Senado sa kakaexplain kung bakit ... mas lalo pang tumitindi ang public backlash dahil wala nang naniniwala sa mga pinagsasabi nila.

Last week, the Supreme Court issued a colossal ruling, and they unanimously voted that the impeachment process was unconstitutional. Ito ba yong pinagkahintay-hintay nila? O di ba naman?

At least somebody is shielding them with an umbrella at hindi na sila maambunan ng puna at batikos. And as predicted by some eagle-eyed pundits ... ang Supreme Court ruling will give them an oasis (isang masilongan) in their desert full of impeachment woes.

Ngayon buong tapang na silang humaharap sa interviews espousing narratives as: "Nagsalita na ang mataas na hukom. Igalang natin sila. Di ba sila ang final arbiter of what the constitution means ... and also some legal issues?: Nakikinita na ng marami ang ganito at the get-go. And it looked like it is making sense now.

With the SC's ruling ... there are 2 Chief Justices, five other Associate Justices, and other legal luminaries making rounds in TV Stations and vlogs giving legal lights to every issue. Pati mga miron at istambay sa kanto nagiging mga abogado na giving their 2 cents worth. Matuk mo?

This leads to the House of Representatives filing a MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION (MR) ... and never have I seen congressmen imbibe the Ginebra San Miguel's "never say die attitude." And voila umeksena ulit ang Senado? Bakit? Akala ko ba tapos na sila after SC came to the rescue?

With MR being filed bakit NAGKUKUMAHOG ngayon ang Senado na magbotohan sa Aug 6 para ISARA ang impeachment court? Kung noon ... they did their damnest to impede ... obstruct ... and slow down. Bakit ngayon ... all system goes sila at walang pwedeng makaharang. So different from their stance and posture before.

August 6 came and they did it anyway despite some warning from legal and illegal supporters na maghinayhinay muna at aabangan nila ang Supreme Court's response sa MR.

Noon ... they are moving heaven and earth para MAANTALA ito? Pero ngayon mabilis pa sila sa alas kuatro at gusto nang TAPOSIN ang kanilang INUMPISAHAN?

Paano na kung hypothetically nagbago ang stand ng SC at ok na sa kanila na i-reverse na ang kanilang ruling (am I that naive) at ok na ang oral arguments and the like ... where does that leave the Senate sa PAGMAMADALI nila. As the saying goes: "Ang taong nagmamadali ... kadalasan nagkamali"."Ang taong lumalakad ng matulin ... kung masugatan malalim."

At huwag nating kalimutan si Sen Cayetano. He is another star of the show. Parang siyang si Pied Piper na sinunusunod ng kanyang alipores.

The last time there was a voting ..he made a foreign-sounding, obsolete-looking legal term REMAND rise from the grave. And fellow senators obliged and voted with him. Ngayon in demand na ang remand.

Last August 6 ... the master tactician did it again. Instead of dismissing the impeachment ... he had it archived. Another innovative and ingenious idea?

I wonder what more tricks can be seen under his sleeves.