Manila - The Supreme Court of the Philippines has directed Bai Fatima Ainee L. Sinsuat, the Vice Governor of Maguindanao del Norte, to respond to contempt charges. This order comes following her failure to inform the tribunal of her assumption of office as Vice Governor. The Supreme Court dismissed the case filed by Sinsuat, who previously sought to represent Maguindanao del Norte as its acting governor, and has given her 10 days from notice to explain why she should not be cited for contempt.
According to Philippines News Agency, Sinsuat previously petitioned the Court to mandate the processing of the appointment of a provincial treasurer for Maguindanao del Norte, a request initially granted on June 26, 2023. However, the Court's Second Division, led by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, later reversed this decision, declaring Sinsuat's petition moot due to her acceptance of the vice governorship following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s appointment of Governor Adulraof Macacua.
The Court emphasized that the factual circumstances had changed significantly since its initial decision, noting that Sinsuat's acceptance and assumption of the vice governorship effectively abandoned her claim to the governorship. The tribunal observed that Sinsuat did not object to President Marcos Jr.'s appointment of Macacua as the Officer-in-Charge Governor on April 4, 2023, and ceased performing the duties of the governor after Macacua assumed office.
Furthermore, the Court ruled that by accepting her appointment as Vice Governor, Sinsuat acknowledged that she could not simultaneously serve as Governor. Sinsuat took her oath as vice governor on April 28, 2023, before the President and has since been fulfilling the responsibilities of this position.
As Sinsuat relinquished her claim to the governorship, the Court concluded that the issues surrounding the appointment of a provincial treasurer and her authority to represent Maguindanao del Norte were rendered moot, leading to the case's dismissal. The Court's requirement for Sinsuat to address the contempt charges stems from her failure to inform them of these significant developments. The Court highlighted that Sinsuat's silence and omissions seemed to be an intentional concealment, undermining the Court's authority and its ability to deliver a just resolution.
The Supreme Court stressed that while it recognizes the official acts of the President, parties involved in such cases should inform the Court of events that could significantly alter the outcome. Sinsuat's actions, including her failure to disclose her appointment as Vice Governor and omission of this fact in her Motion for Indirect Contempt, were seen as undermining the Court's authority.