House defers show-cause order vs. CA justices who favored Ilocos 6

The House of Representatives has deferred the issuance of the show cause order on the three Court of Appeals (CA) justices in connection with their order to release the six detained Ilocos Norte government employees, the chairman of the House Committee on Good Government said on Tuesday.

This developed as House members wait for resolution regarding the motion for inhibition they filed against two of the justices.

"Kung naalala niyo, I already signed a show cause order to the three justices why they should not be cited for contempt," Surigao Del Norte Rep. Jonny Pimentel told reporters in an ambush interview.

"But we're holding it in abeyance considering that on June 29, [House Sergeant-at-Arms] Gen. [Roland] Detabali filed for a motion for inhibition sa justices. So we will just await muna 'yung motion natin, if the justices will inhibit," he added.

The show cause order was issued on CA associate justices Stephen Cruz, Nina Antonino-Valenzuela and Edwin Sorongon directing them to explain why the should not be cited in contempt for ordering the release of the so-called "Ilocos Six."

The two justices who were asked to inhibit were Cruz and Valenzuela, Pimentel pointed out. He, however, did not state the reason why they should recuse.

"Kapag nag-inhibit ang mga justices, there is no need to issue the show cause order kasi wala na nga sila doon," he said.

"What we are asking is for them, especially Justice Stephen Cruz and Nina Valenzuela, to inhibit so that we can have a fair decision," he added.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is investigating the supposedly irregular purchase of motor vehicles by the Ilocos Norte provincial government.

Six officials of Ilocos Norte's provincial government, including Pedro Agcaoili, Evangeline Tabulog, Josephine Calajate, Eden Battulayan, Genedine Jambaro and Encarnacion Gaor, have been detained at the Batasan Pambansa complex for refusing to answer queries of the panel about the purchase of the motor vehicles during previous hearings. —NB, GMA News