MANILA, Philippines?Former Senator Ana Consuelo ?Jamby? Madrigal has won a reprieve from Supreme Court in her appeal to participate in the distribution of the billion-peso fortune left by her late aunt, billionaire Consuelo ?Chito? Madrigal-Collantes.

In a three-page status quo ante order, the tribunal set aside the March 9 and July 22 resolutions of the Court of Appeals which prevented Madrigal from participating in the probate, a judicial process to ascertain the authenticity of a person?s last will.
Madrigal had claimed that somebody had forged her aunt?s signature in her last will and testament which covered only P26 million of Collantes?s properties believed to be worth billions of pesos.

?After deliberating on the petition for certiorari? the court, without necessarily giving due course thereto, resolves to? issue a status quo ante order? effective immediately and continuing until further orders from this court,? read the October 18 resolution issued by Associate Justice Arturo Brion.

?Now, therefore you, your agents or representatives? are hereby directed to maintain the status quo in this case prevailing before the issuance of the assailed resolutions,? it added.

The Supreme Court likewise directed the parties to file their respective comment within 10 days.