House to detain Imee if she skips next hearing on tobacco funds mess

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos will be ordered detained by the House of Representatives should she fail to attend another hearing on the supposed irregular purchase of motor vehicles by the provincial government.

According to a report by 24 Oras on Tuesday, the House is preparing a detention order in case Marcos fails to attend the July 25 hearing by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

Committee chairman and Surigao del Sur representative Johnny Pimentel issued the subpoena after Marcos' repeated failure to attend the investigation on the provincial government's alleged use of tobacco excise tax shares to purchase P66.45 million worth of motor vehicles.

Marcos, on the advice of her brother, former senator Bongbong Marcos, stated on June 23 that she will skip the hearing.

"Nakita naman natin ang Congress, paspasan, turo ng turo, parang inakusahan ka na, wala pang nangyayari. Wala pa ngang nakasulat, alleged, purported, parang sinabi 'misused,'" Marcos said.

Should she fail to heed the subpoena, Marcos will join other Ilocos Norte employees who remain detained at the House of Representatives for still refusing to speak about the purchases. —Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News