Bongbong may also be cited in contempt for advising Imee to skip House hearing —solon

Former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. may also be cited for contempt for supposedly advising his elder sister, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, to skip the July 25 hearing on the supposedly irregular purchase of motor vehicles by the provincial government, a lawmaker involved in the investigation said Wednesday.

"Posible ma-contempt si Bongbong kasi nag-interfere sa rules," Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, who chairs the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, told GMA News. "Pero di pa naman nila gagawin kasi naka-focus pa kay Imee."

The committee has already issued a subpoena to Imee to attend the July 25 hearing, a continuation of its investigation on the provincial government's alleged use of tobacco excise tax shares to purchase P66.45 million worth of motor vehicles.

Imee, however, said on June 23 that she will skip the hearing upon the advice of her brother.

“I want to explain myself in Congress but others said I should not. Bongbong told me I could also be detained,” she said.

Pimentel on Tuesday said Imee will be ordered detained if she snubs the hearing. In fact, he said they are already preparing her detention space.

“We had the chamber prepared right after Governor Marcos publicly declared that she will dodge our July 25 hearing, despite our subpoena and show cause order compelling her to explain satisfactorily why she should not be held in contempt for her brazen defiance,” he said.

Pimentel, however, clarified on Wednesday that there is no politics involved in the investigation.

"It's not political. Siguro the public or the other camp is muddling the issue. The issue here is that there were trucks or equipment or motor vehicles that were purchased illegally," he said. —Erwin Colcol/KBK/KVD, GMA News