Makati RTC Branch 140 presiding Judge Elmo Alameda released the fivepage order yesterday afternoon in deference to the status quo order issued by the Supreme Court last June 5.

Alameda said the court has no authority to rule on the issue raised by the prosecution relating to the scope and application of the status quo order issued by the High Court.

He also said the court cannot rule that the status quo order has become moot as a consequence of the earlier issuance by the panel of investigating state prosecutors of their joint resolution in the rebellion case.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) which filed the case against party-list solons Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Teodoro Casino, Rafael Mariano and Joel Virador and other military and leftist groups alleged to be involved in a coup plot last February, had reiterated that the SC’s status quo order does not include the proceedings being undertaken in the trial, but merely exclusively pertains to the preliminary investigation of the case.

However, Alameda dismissed the prosecution panel’s argument saying that to proceed with the case would "pre-empt the Supreme Court of its jurisdiction to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the issues that were raised in the petition."

Furthermore, the order does not cover Rep. Crispin Beltran and 1st Lt. Lawrence San Juan, whose rebellion case was later consolidated with the Batasan 5s.

But Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, head of the government’s Task Force Rebellion, said they will follow the court’s ruling though he is confident that the order will not affect the proceedings because it did not touch the merits of the case.

Beltran, currently detained at the Philippine Heart Center, welcomed the suspension of the hearing.

"He welcomes the suspension of the Batasan 5 hearings and will be awaiting Judge’s Alameda’s decision on his case. Ka Bel and Anakpawis are hoping for a favorable resolution to his motion for reconsideration," Lisa Ito, Anakpawis spokesperson said.