By
Freddie Lazaro
LAOAG CITY -- The
Court of Appeals has initiated contempt of court proceedings against the
leadership of the House of Representatives and the Chamber’s sergeant-at-arms
for their refusal to present before it the six detained employees of the Ilocos
Norte provincial government.
Last week, Ilocos Norte
Gov. Imee Marcos said she is determined in fighting for the release of her
employees who are now known as the “Ilocos Six” – who were ordered detained by
House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas since May 29.
A signature campaign
has also been launched last week by the provincial government to have the
detained workers freed.
The show cause order
issued by the CA’s special fourth division was addressed to Speaker Pantaleon
Alvarez and sergeant-at-arms retired Lt. Gen. Roland M. Detabali.
The order was issued
late last week after Detabali defied the appellate court’s directive to present
the six detained petitioners – Genedine D. Jambaro, Encarnacion A. Gaor,
Josephine P. Calajate, Eden C. Battulayan, Evangeline C. Tabuluog, and Pedro S.
Agcaoili Jr. – before it in a habeas corpus proceeding.
Detabali also defied
the CA’s order for the release of the six detained employees.
In a press statement,
lawyer Butch Catubay who represents the six detained employees said that the CA
had ruled that it has jurisdiction over the petition since it is a “matter of a
habeas corpus case.”
He said the CA had
stressed the decisions of the appellate court are “concurrent with the Supreme
Court and the Regional Trial Court when it comes to habeas corpus cases.”
Earlier, Ilocos Norte
Sangguniang Panlalawigan member and lawyer Vicentito Lazo echoed Catubay’s
statement saying, “it is not a question of ‘powers and jurisdiction’ between CA
and SC for it is a habeas corpus case,” and that “under an existing law the CA
has jurisdiction over the said cases.”
“We must follow
the rule of law,” he added.
On June 8, the CA’s
special fourth division granted the plea of the six detained employees for
their release from detention.
But the CA sheriff
said he was not allowed entry at the House of Representatives to serve the
order.
In its ruling, the
fourth division of the appellate court said
Detabali should explain why he should not be cited in contempt for
disobeying its order to present the detained officials.
The House committee on
good government and public accountability, which is investigating the alleged
misuse of P66.45 million in tobacco funds to buy motor vehicles, cited them in
contempt. Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said they would continue to
hold the officials “until they stop their contemptuous act of giving evasive
answers, tantamount to refusal to answer.”
The CA sheriff
accompanied by the lawyers of the ‘Ilocos Six’ returned to the House of
Representative Tuesday to serve once again the order of release of the six
employees.
Special Fourth
Division Acting Chairperson Stephen C. Cruz and Associate Appellate Justices
Edwin D. Sorongon and Nina G. Antonion-Valenzuela granted the petitioner the
release order Monday afternoon, directing the release of the "Ilocos Six''
who sought a petition for the writ of habeas corpus.
Chairman of the
House committee on good government and accountability and Surigao del Sur Rep.
Johnny Ty-Pimentel, said they have not received an order from the Speaker to
“immediately release” the six employees, thus declining once again the CA
order.
Detabali
initially argued that cases regarding habeas corpus are not under jurisdiction
of the CA, but rather under the Supreme Court.
Thus, the CA
once again directed the House Sergeant-at-Arms "to release immediately the
“Ilocos Six.”
The six employees were being investigated for
the Capitol's purchase of motor vehicles sourced from tobacco excise taxes
and were cited in contempt by Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Rodolfo
"Rudy" C. Fariñas for "refusing to answer questions" and
being "evasive"
Family members of six
employees were almost prohibited to visit, strictly imposing short visiting
hours.
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