Gov’t told to answer rice suit
THE SUPREME COURT (SC) has given the government 10 days to comment on a lawsuit seeking to stop the enforcement of Executive Order (EO) 62, which cuts tariffs on imported rice to 15%.
“The court, without giving due course to the petition and prayer for a temporary restraining order, required the respondents to file their comments within a nonextendible period of 10 days from notice,” court spokesperson Camille Sue Mae L. Ting told a news briefing on Wednesday.
Farmers’ groups have asked the tribunal to stop the enforcement of EO 62, citing livelihood loss.
The plaintiffs named President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and Tariff Commission head Marilou P. Mendoza as respondents. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana