ILOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to take jurisdiction on the habeas corpus case of the six detained Ilocos Norte officials pending before the Court of Appeals following the House of Representatives’ refusal to release them on the order of the Court of Appeals.
In a 67-page petition Marcos and the so-called “Ilocos Six””•Pedro S. Agcaoili Jr., Encarnacion A. Gaor, Josephine P. Calajate, Genedine D. Jambaro, Eden C. Battulayan and Evangeline C. Tabulog”•sought a temporary restraining order stopping the investigation of the House committee on good government and public accountability of Ilocos Norte’s alleged misuse of P66.45 million in tobacco excise funds.
Marcos on Thursday also denounced what she described as a “hostage crisis” in Congress as a result of the case of the Ilocos Six who are being detained at the Batasan Complex for refusal to answer questions on the alleged fraudulent use of the P66.45-million tobacco excise funds.
“If there is terrorism in Marawi, there is a hostage crisis in Congress,” Marcos told reporters.
She said there was no irregularity about the decision of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte to purchase some P66.45 million worth of vehicles using the excise funds without the benefit of a public bidding.
Norman Cruz
Marcos and the Ilocos Six also appealed to the high court to order the release of the provincial officials whose habeas corpus case remained unresolved by the appellate court and its earlier orders for their immediate release repeatedly ignored by the House of Representatives.
The petitioners named as respondents House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, House committee chairman and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel and House sergeant-at-arms Roland Detabali.
“It is not likely that a decision on the habeas corpus case is forthcoming,” the petitioners said citing the July 7, 2017 letter of Associate Justice Edwin Sorongon.
The petitioners told the high court that the House inquiry was ““not in aid of legislation” but a “fishing expedition to determine the guilt of respondent Fariñas’ political enemies” in violation of the petitioners’ right to due process.
They also said the House committee had subjected the six employees to psychological torture and intimidation.
Marcos described the House inquiry into Ilocos Norte’s use of tobacco excise funds as a “witch-hunt.”
She said the House investigation obviously stemmed from her political rivalry with Fariñas in Ilocos Norte.
“This started from local politics, so we should just bring the fight back to Ilocos Norte,” Marcos said.