SC voids amparo writ for Gatdula

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) nullified yesterday a Manila judge’s writ of amparo in favor of former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Magtanggol Gatdula.

In full-court session, the justices voted to void the writ of amparo issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 26 Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. in March last year. The decision, penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, was not immediately released.

Gatdula sought the writ following the alleged ambush of NBI Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda in February 2012, where he was reportedly implicated. He presented before the court the affidavits of two witnesses to prove there are threats to his life.

Pampilo granted his petition, saying that the writ of amparo may be issued in favor of citizens who are threatened of deprivation of their liberty, “even if the subject has not been actually arrested or has not disappeared.”

The SC’s public information office said in a text message to reporters that the high court “found several irregularities in the judge’s appreciation of the rules on the writ of amparo” and directed him to “determine within 48 hours from receipt of the resolution whether the issuance of the writ of amparo is proper.”

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima welcomed the SC ruling, saying Pampilo’s writ “deserves to be struck down as patent abuse of judicial authority.”