SolGen: EO 62 implementation may proceed sans TRO

MANILA: The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on Wednesday said the implementation of Executive Order No. 62 lowering the tariff on imported rice and other products may proceed until otherwise restrained by the Supreme Court (SC). 'We do not know whether the Supreme Court will issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) or not in the days to come. I suppose the SC justices are also presently evaluating whether any injunctive relief is necessary. As far as the government is concerned, however, the EO will be implemented unless temporarily restrained by the SC,' Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra told reporters. 'We have received a copy of the petition, but we have not received a copy of any SC resolution requiring us to comment. Be that as it may, the OSG is presently studying the legal issues involved,' he said. The SolGen issued the statement after the Supreme Court En Banc directed the government agencies concerned to comment on the petition filed by agriculture groups led by the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikutura Inc. (SINAG), seeking to declare EO 62 as unconstitutional. The petition also asked the SC to issue a TRO against the implementation of the EO. 'The Court, without giving due course to the petition and prayer for TRO, required the respondents to file their comments within a non- extendible period of ten (10) days from notice,' the SC said in a statement. Source: Philippines News Agency