The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a petition to cite for indirect contempt filed by lawyer Herminio Harry Roque Jr. against former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang (retired), former Camp Aguinaldo Camp Commander Brig. Gen. Arthur Ang (retired) and former AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc. Roque lodged the case against the three military officials, who stopped the family of transgender Jennifer Laude, who was killed by a US Marine–Private Joseph Scott Pemberton–from barging into Camp Aguinaldo, the AFP’s general headquarters in Quezon City. The AFP said Roque fomented disorder by inciting his clients to scale the perimeter fence to see the US Marine. “The confidentiality rule requires only that ‘proceedings against attorneys’ be kept private and confidential… However, the rule does not extend so far that it covers the mere existence or pendency of disciplinary actions,” it added.

Source: Manila Times March 24, 2017 11:15 UTC