Court denies OSG plea on protection order

THE Supreme Court has denied with finality a motion of the Office of the Solicitor General seeking reconsideration of its issuance of a permanent protection order in favor of Ruth Manglalan, partner of missing Kilusang Mayo Uno labor organizer Elizabeth “Loi” Magbanua.

In an en banc resolution last August 6, the High Court “resolved to deny with finality” the OSG’s motion for reconsideration, saying “there is no compelling reason nor substantial arguments to warrant the reversal of the questioned resolution.”

“No further pleadings or motions will be entertained. Let an entry of judgement be made immediately,” the SC added.

To recall, the OSG in a motion dated May 21, 2024, asked the High Court to reconsider its Jan. 30, 2024 resolution granting the protection order to Manglalan.

In 2022, the High Court also issued a writ of amparo in favor of Magbanua and another missing activist, Alipio “Ador” Juat.

It also directed the Court of Appeals to summarily hear and decide on the case.

The order was based on the petition filed by KMU and Gabriela in favor of the two missing activists, who they said were victims of extrajudicial arrest and detention by security forces.

Named respondents in the petition were Gen. Bartolome Vicente Baccaro, in his capacity as the then chief of staff of the Armed Forces; retired general Jose Faustino Jr., in his capacity as officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense; retired police general Ricardo de Leon, as director general of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency; Lt Gen Romeo Brawner Jr., as Army commander; Maj, Gen Roy Galido, as acting Army chief of staff; Maj. Gen Romulo Manuel, as deputy chief of staff for intelligence of the AFP; and Brig Gen Nolasco Mempin, in his capacity as the deputy chief of staff for civil military operations.

The CA later granted the writ and protection order in favor of Magbanua and Juat.

Magbanua went missing on May 3, 2022 after attending a meeting with fellow labor organizers in Valenzuela City. She has not been found.

Manglalan said she had tried to contact Magbanua through text and calls but did not receive any reply. After several days, she said, her colleagues from Gabriela, a