MANILA, Philippines ? Despite a recommendation from the Department of Trade and Industry for the lifting of the freeze on fuel prices, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. sought in court Friday an assurance from Malacañang that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would adopt and implement it.

Shell's legal counsel acknowledged during a hearing at the Makati regional trial court that there was a proposal to lift Executive Order 839 but said there was no guaranty that the President would heed DTI's advice.

Assistant Solicitor General Marissa Macaraig, however, insisted that there was a strong possibility that the President would act on the recommendation before leaving for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit later Friday.

The government also presented in court a faxed copy of the memo from Trade Secretary Peter Favila to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to lift the EO and a draft order from Ermita lifting the order that placed a cap on the prices of fuel.