The Supreme Court today issued a status quo ante order effectively barring the Senate from arresting former NEDA Chief and now CHED Chairman Romulo Neri.
"The Senate cannot arrest him yet," said Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Jose Midas Marquez.
On January 30, the Senate has issued an arrest warrant against Neri citing him for indirect contempt for failure to attend the hearings on the controversial NBN deal.
But Neri filed a supplemental petition at the Supreme Court questioning the arrest warrant.
In his petition, Neri said he could not be arrested because only cases of direct contempt warrant an arrest.
The Supreme Court has asked the Senate to comment on his petition within ten days and scheduled oral argument on March 4 at 1:30 p.m.
Neri heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing of the order. He said he is going back to work tomorrow, Wednesday.
"I am very happy for it. It gives a great relief. The Supreme Court has effectively upheld the rule of law," Neri said.
The Senate has pulled out its sergeant-at-arms who was tasked to arrest Neri at his house.
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