The Supreme Court of the Philippines has intervened to temporarily stop the anti-graft court from moving forward with high-profile criminal cases involving former Cebu City officials and private individuals. A division of the High Court granted a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Sandiganbayan, effectively putting on hold two criminal cases for malversation of public funds and corruption.
Court Order Halts Proceedings
The Supreme Court's order directs the Sandiganbayan "from further proceeding" with the cases, a directive that is "effective immediately and continuing until further orders." This judicial brake means that arrest warrants, which were imminent after the Ombudsman found probable cause, will not be issued for now against former Cebu City administrator Floro Casas Jr. and his ten co-accused.
It is crucial to note that while the corruption charge was bailable, the malversation charge involving a substantial amount of public funds was not. The Ombudsman's resolution detailing these charges was signed on October 2, 2025, but the formal filing of information only reached the Sandiganbayan on November 24, 2025.
Petition and Ex-Parte Relief
The legal action that triggered this development was a petition for certiorari filed by Atty. Jun Casas, the lawyer for the former administrator, on November 28, 2025. The petition included a prayer for a TRO. The Supreme Court division granted this request on Friday, December 12, 2025.
Significantly, the TRO was issued ex-parte. This legal term means the relief was granted based on motions and communications from Atty. Casas's side alone, without the other party being present or notified. Such a measure requires a strong demonstration of "immediate harm" to the petitioner and is generally approached with caution due to due process concerns. The Supreme Court's order did not elaborate on its specific reasoning beyond stating it had deliberated on the petition and acted on the prayer.
Wider Impact and Next Steps
The TRO's benefit extends beyond Floro Casas Jr. The other individuals covered by the order include:
- Seven other former Cebu City officials dismissed by the Ombudsman, including the then city treasurer, accountant, and public services department head.
- Three private individuals connected to the supplier companies Docast Construction & General Supply and JJ&J Construction and General Supply.
The Supreme Court has also ordered the respondents to file a comment on the petition for certiorari within 10 days from notice. The court specifically instructed them to comment, not to file a motion to dismiss. The order binds not only the Sandiganbayan but also all persons acting on its instructions.
Following the court's decision, Atty. Jun Casas expressed gratitude on his Facebook page on Saturday, December 13, posting a message that read "Thank You, Lord" accompanied by a prayer hands emoji. He did not respond to follow-up inquiries seeking clarification on the nature of the legal reprieve.
This development introduces a significant pause in a case that alleges the overpayment of hundreds of millions of pesos to contractors for city projects. The legal process now awaits the next submission to the Supreme Court before any further action can be taken by the anti-graft court.
