SC issues show cause order vs. Lambino over fake TRO for Duterte arrest

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered lawyer Raul Lambino to explain why he should not face administrative action for spreading false information that the SC issued a temporary restraining order against the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the SC En Banc ordered Lambino to show cause within 10 days.

The #SupremeCourtPH (SC) En Banc, during its April 2, 2025 session, has ordered Atty. Raul Lambino to show cause within 10 days from notice why he should not face administrative action for spreading false information.

In a Facebook Live broadcast on March 11, 2025, Atty. Lambino… pic.twitter.com/TMP28gEYUV

— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO) April 8, 2025

"In a Facebook Live broadcast on March 11, 2025, Atty. Lambino falsely claimed that the Supreme Court had issued a TRO against the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” the SC said.

“This misinformation caused public confusion and misled the people about the Supreme Court’s actions,” it added.

For his part, Lambino said he had no intention to spread fake news.

“There was no intention on my part to spread ‘fake news,’ disinformation, or misinformation,” he told GMA News Online.

He said he will answer the show cause in due time.

On March 11, the day of Duterte's arrest, his camp and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa filed a petition asking the SC to direct the government to release the former president from detention.

They also asked the court to issue a TRO restraining the government from cooperating with the International Criminal Court following the former’s arrest.

Before the former president could be flown to The Hague, Netherlands that night, social media posts claimed that the SC granted the request and issued a TRO.

The high court, however, denied this.

The SC previously said that it will investigate and impose sanctions against those individuals who falsely claimed that it issued a TRO on Duterte’s arrest.

Duterte is currently under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. 

Lambino is a senatorial candidate for the upcoming elections under the PDP Laban slate. —VAL, GMA Integrated News