Sugar Mercado shows a copy of the petition filed at the Supreme Court on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo from Bandera)
Sugar Mercado, a former member of the Sexbomb Girls, on Friday sought the Supreme Court’s help to stop lower courts from proceeding on what she called “harassment cases” filed by her estranged husband.
Accompanied by members of the Gabriela Women’s Party, Mercado filed an 83-page petition against her husband, Kristoffer Jay Go, for certiorari and prohibition with a prayer for a temporary restraining order.
Mercado faces various civil and criminal cases filed by Go, which include child abuse, libel, physical injuries, slander by deed, unjust vexation unlawful arrest, slight physical injuries, grave coercion, grave threats, and indirect contempt.
Go filed the cases after filing the main custody case in court.
Mercado said the cases filed were a form of strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP).
“They are mere harassment or vexatious cases meant to threaten and instill fear on victims of abuse, especially those who lack or have no access to courts,” the petition said.
According to the petition, SLAPP renders ineffective protection orders as a form of remedy to protect victims of violence and abuse,
The petition noted that the high court promulgates rules protecting and enforcing the constitutional rights of women who are victims of abuse.
“Declaring vexatious and harassment cases as SLAPPs and prohibiting the exercise of the same is well within the power of the Honorable Court to promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights,” Mercado’s petition stated.
“In fact, the Honorable Court has already promulgated the Rules on Violence Against Women and Children (A.M. No. 04-10-11-SC). However, the current situation that afflicts abuse victims necessitate the promulgation or amendment of the said rules to include the necessary protection and to prevent abusers from using and abusing judicial processes to inflict additional violence,” it added.
The petition noted that the high court had already provided remedies against harassment suits against environmental advocates, making the petitioner confident that it will also protect abused women by providing anti-harassment remedies. /atm