By NITZ ARANCON and GENEVIEVE CANTOR Correspondents POLICE yesterday stepped up security at the Court of Justice (CA) station in the city as a Padayon Pilipino-backed group seeking the ouster of Mayor Oscar Moreno staged a demonstration in an effort to pressure associate justices to allow Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas to assumed as local chief executive next week. The demonstration came two days after the CA sent Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Moreno, city treasurer Glenn Bañez and their accuser William Guialani to submit their memoranda in connection with the mayor’s petition for a writ of preliminary injunction. Moreno and Bañez were ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct as an offshoot of a tax settlement between city hall and Ajinomoto Philippines in 2014. A 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) secured by Moreno and Bañez against the implementation of the dismissal order would lapse next week. The demonstrators criticized the CA for issuing the 60-day TRO in favor of Moreno, and questioned the associate justices’ credibility. One placard reads: “Justice Camello kinsay nag-abang sa mansion mo?” The chairman of the CA Division that is hearing Moreno’s petition for a writ of preliminary injunction is Associate Justice Edgardo Camello. The Padayon Pilipino was behind the demonstration which the party’s spokesman, Councilor Alexander Dacer, would be carried out until Jan. 12, the last day of the TRO. “Kini nga protesta karon pagpakita lamang kini nga ang mga katawhan sa Cagayan de Oro nagkahiusa,” said Dacer. He said the demonstration was planned on Wednesday afternoon “apan tan-awa ang resulta karon, daghan ug nagkadaghan ang mga tawo nga nagsiabot sa maong rally.” Dacer showed up during the demonstration along with other prominent personalities closely associated with Padayon Pilipino leader ex-mayor Vicente Emano. Those who came were former acting city police director Antonio Monbtalba, former City Economic Enterprises Department (CEED) head Federico Gempesaw,  Puntod barangay chairman Marvin Beja, and Macabalan barangay chairman Norbelle Sa-a, among others. Former mayor Emano himself went to demonstration site yesterday afternoon. Socrates Favila, president of the Divisoria Night Café and Night Market Vendors group, said his group was recognizing Vice Mayor Acenas as the city’s mayor now. Favila said he and the other demonstrators wanted to pressure the CA against issuing a writ of preliminary injunction in favor of Moreno. He Favila also criticized the CA for issuing the TRO, calling the move “improper.” “Sayop man ang pag-issue sa TRO kay sa dihang gi-issue sa korte ang TRO, nakalingkod na man si Vice Mayor Acenas isip mayor. Unsa pa may ilang i-restrain?” Favila opined. Some of the participants however said they were unaware that it was going to be a demonstration. Nanette Dumadag of Zone 9, Bulua, said he merely went to the place because she was invited by Roselle Dalondonan, a Padayon Pilipino leader in her community. Dumadag said Dalondonan told her it was going to be a meeting about the government’s Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program or “4Ps.” “Gi-ingnan man ko nga na-ay meeting sa 4Ps dinhi sa Court of Appeals. Mi-anhi lang pud ko dala nako ang akong anak kay membro man pud ko sa 4Ps,” Dumadag said. Two others, Letecia Yañez and Josefina Cuertes, said they were asked by Macabalan barangay chairman Sa-a to attend a dialogue. “Si Kapitan Sa-a man ang nagbayad sa jeep nga among gisakyan. Mi-anhi lang pod mi kay na-a kunoy polong-polong dinhi,” Yañez said. Police said some 300 residents  trooped to the CA station yesterday morning, prompting them to field an antiiot group in order to the area in Puntod. Senior Insp. Gerry Ligan, Macabalan police chief, said police also fielded intelligence unit officers because of the “suspicious” movements of a group of men. He said the group, composed of three men wearing jackets and hats, were unknown to demonstrators. “Ang among gilikayan basin ug mohimo unya sila ug kagubot. At stake ang seguridad sa Court of Appeals employees labi na kay amo pud gi-consider nga nay threat ang mga justices ug lawyers dinhi,” said Ligan. Police also sent members of the City Public Safety Company to augment the security team in the area.