Thursday, February 21, 2008 Suplico hails court for denying TRO on 2008 budget By Jay D. Balnig
VICE Governor Rolex Suplico lauded the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Barotac Viejo Wednesday for denying the petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the implementation of the 2008 annual budget of the Provincial Capitol.
Judge Roger Amador of RTC Branch 67 denied the TRO sought by Rex Barber of Santiago, Barotac Viejo on his prohibition and mandamus cases filed against the Provincial Government over the implementation of 2008 budget.
Amador on his February 19, 2008 order states, "for failure on the part of the petitioner (Barber) to establish his clear right... the prayer for a 72-hour TRO is accordingly denied."
Suplico considered the decision a "pro-people verdict."
"This is a confirmation that the Provincial Board is not a rubber stamp," he said.
Barber through his counsel Eduardo Jalbuna assailed that the appropriation ordinance approved by the Provincial Board is illegal as prescribed by court in a similar case.
Barber filed the said prohibition and mandamus purposely to stop the implementation of the said 2008 budget.
To note, the PB's Appropriation Committee chaired by Suplico slashed the budget of the governor including the appropriation for the Provincial Legal Office and that of the Office of the Provincial Administrator's Office.
After its passage last January, Governor Niel Tupas Sr. vetoed the said ordinance but the PB voted for its.
There was however no proof to show that Barber is directly connected to Governor Tupas.
