Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court judge Edwin Sorongon has renewed a 30-day temporary protection order sought by fitness expert Marie Roxanne "Plinky" Recto in a civil case she filed against her former Negrense boyfriend, her lawyers Rowena Guanzon and Viriato Dupaya said yesterday.

The judge also ordered that the hearing on March 31 of the civil case continue to determine the propriety of granting or not the permanent protection order applied for by Recto, wherein her former boyfriend and two more witnesses are scheduled to testify.

In view of recent developments involving the custody of the contending parties' 17-month-old son, who is now in the temporary custody of the former boyfriend by order of the Bago Regional Trial Court, as well as the pending petition of Recto for habeas corpus, certiorari and injunction with prayer for TPO filed before the Court of Appeals of Cebu City, the judge said he was left with ruling only on the TPO since the other matters sought became moot and academic.

Guided by the express provisions of the Anti Violence Against Women and their Children Act, and taking into account the repeated plea of Recto for peace of mind, safety and protection, the judge said he was granting a renewal of her TPO.

All doubts in the implementation of a TPO shall be resolved in favor of women and children consistent with the spirit of the law, the judge also said.*CPG

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