Mike A urges SC to junk gov’t appeal on GMA TRO

MANILA, Philippines – Former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo asked the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday to dismiss the government’s appeal of its ruling last November affirming the immediate implementation of its order allowing his wife, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to seek treatment abroad for a rare disease in her cervical spine amid poll fraud charges against her.
In a 14-page opposition, petitioner instead asked the high court to cite in contempt Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and other officials for defying the temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the implementation of watchlist order against Mrs. Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative.
“The TRO is ‘immediately executory.’ The public respondents have chosen to disobey it. They cannot find succor in hairsplitting technicalities or by egregiously stating that the Court was wrong. There is a term for what they did: contempt. For that, the public respondents must be punished,” he said.
Arroyo said the Department of Justice (DOJ) should be punished for banking their action on the dissenting opinion of Associate Justice Lourdes Sereno in defying the TRO.
He even alleged that Sereno’s dissent was “written in a manner at war with the confidential character of Supreme Court deliberations – as pointed out by her brethren in the Court.”
Arroyo’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio argued that “in making the TRO immediately executory, the majority (of the SC) was only exhibiting fealty to the raison d’etre (reason for existence) of vesting the courts with TRO powers; it gave flesh to the spirit that giveth life.”
He said there was “nothing irregular” about the high tribunal’s immediate issuance of the TRO, pointing out that “on almost identical set of facts… sometime in 23 August 2011, (the SC), upon a majority vote, a TRO was also granted in favor of the (former first gentleman) who was previously placed on the DOJ’s watchlist order dated 04 August 2011.”
He added that “what was totally unexpected was that Mr. Justice (Antonio) Carpio and Madame Justice Sereno would dissent in the present case when no such dissent was expressed in the previous case.”
Arroyo’s camp filed the pleading in response to the Motion for Reconsideration (MR) filed last Dec. 21 by the Office of the Solicitor-General, on behalf of De Lima and other respondents in the case involving the constitutionality of DOJ Circular No. 41, which authorizes the DOJ to issue watchlist and hold departure orders against individuals.
The DOJ is asking the SC to reverse its earlier ruling saying that the TRO was in full force and effect and that De Lima should have allowed the former president to leave the country.
The issuance of a TRO on Nov. 15 last year was the subject of one of the Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Last week, De Lima testified on the circumstances surrounding the alleged “hasty” issuance of TRO based on the dissent of Sereno, which testimony was declared “hearsay” by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile but allowed to remain on record at the Senate impeachment ocurt.
In a vote of 8-5, the high court issued last Nov. 15 a TRO enjoining the DOJ from implementing the WLO against Rep. Arroyo. The Arroyo couple tried to leave the country on that same day but was prevented from boarding her flight to Hong Kong by Immigration officials upon orders of De Lima, who argued that the TRO was not immediately executory due to government’s appeal.
The government stood firm in its argument that the DOJ has authority to issue the WLO even if the case was still under preliminary investigation.
De Lima has consistently invoked national interest in preventing the former leader’s flight in order to put closure to anomalies that hounded Arroyo’s nine-year term.
Last Nov. 17, the SC affirmed its TRO and denied the motion for reconsideration of the DOJ. It also issued a show cause order requiring De Lima to explain in 10 days why she should not be cited in contempt for defying the TRO.
Rep. Arroyo, however, was still barred from leaving the country after a Pasay City regional trial court ordered her arrest hours after the Commission on Elections filed a case for electoral sabotage against her in connection with alleged cheating in Maguindanao during the 2007 polls.
Arroyo was charged primarily based on the testimony of former provincial administrator Norie Unas, who claimed he had heard the former president instruct the Ampatuans to ensure 12-0 victory of Team Unity in his province during an event in the Palace days before the 2007 polls.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=781919&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Tourists and residents of Manila travel out of town to the north on a short getaway look for the best place in Clark to buy some fine vintage wine to bring home after their holidays and vacations. Many find a top rated wine shop called Clark Wine Center to be an exciting place to do some shopping in Clark Pampanga. This famous wine shop is highly recommended for visitors going to Clark Pampanga to drink good wine, relax and unwind with friends and families. This frequently visited wine shop is known by tourist and visitors to Pampanga, Angeles city, Subic and Clark Philippines as a cool place to hang out in Clark. Many attend the regular wine tasting held either outdoor on the roof deck or in indoor on the second floor above the wine shop. The place has good atmosphere for a private wine tasting party or a small night out gatherings for business or social event.

Tourists and visitors staying in Angeles City, Tarlac, Baguio, Subic and Pampanga sometimes wonder what are the things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga? Frequent visitors to Pampanga discover that it is fun to do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

Leading Philippines Wine Supplier Yats Wine Cellars based in Clark Philippines with outlets in Angeles City, Subic Freeport and Manila Philippines has been not only a wine shop for fine wines covering all major wine regions but also a source of reliable and useful information about wine, wine appreciation, wine accessories, wine and health, food and wine pairing and all other matters relating to wine and its appreciation. This Philippines Clark Freeport based Wine Supplier and Wine Shop frequently holds public wine tasting events in Pampana Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Subic Bay area, Makati, Fort Bonifacio and other areas in Philippines capital city Manila. Private Wine events such as private wine tasting and private wine dinners are also designed and organized for private clientele for their wine loving guests.

Wine Catering is a unique product of Yats Wine Cellars, created back in 2005 in response to a growing demand for private wine parties in Manila, Cebu, Subic, Angeles Clark Philippines.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is the most revered wine in China and many other parts of Asia. The best wine shop in Asia to buy older vintages of Chateau Lafite is Yats Wine Cellars located in Clark Philippines. Aside from Lafite, visitors can buy other fine wines at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Margaux. Excellent Burgundy wines like Chambertin, Vougeot, Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Pommard, Meursault, Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Romanee Conti, La Tache and Romanee St. Vivant can be found here.

Yats Wine Cellars can be reached at their Clark Wine Center Philippines wine shop located on the main highway M A Roxas of Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone or their sales office in Ortigas Centre, Metro Manila. Here is the contact information:

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com