THE Supreme Court (SC) en banc has directed lawyer Raul Lambino to explain why he should not face administrative sanctions for allegedly spreading false information about a supposed temporary restraining order (TRO) involving former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.
The high court gave Lambino a non-extendible 10-day deadline to submit his explanation. The SC issued its show cause order on April 2, 2025, but its Public Information Office publicized it only on Tuesday, April 8.
The order came after Lambino, a Duterte ally and PDP senatorial candidate, claimed in a Facebook Live broadcast that the SC had issued a TRO to stop the arrest of Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) last month.
The SC denied issuing such an order and said Lambino’s statement misled the public and created confusion.
Background
Authorities arrested Duterte on March 11 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, Metro Manila upon his return from Hong Kong, based on the ICC warrant for crimes against humanity related to his drug war.
On the same day, Duterte and ally Sen. Ronald dela Rosa filed a petition with the SC, seeking the former president’s release and a TRO to stop government cooperation with the ICC in carrying out the arrest.
Later that evening, as authorities prepared to fly Duterte to The Hague in the Netherlands, Lambino went on Facebook Live and claimed that the SC had issued a TRO to prevent Duterte’s transfer.
Lambino and another lawyer, Israelito Torreon, even went to the SC that night, allegedly to “confirm” the TRO’s issuance and obtain a hard copy.
The SC later clarified that no TRO was issued. Authorities flew Duterte to The Hague that night to turn him over to ICC custody.
On March 13, Lambino admitted in a Daily Tribune interview that their request for a TRO had been denied. / KAL