Supporters urge Imee Marcos not to attend House probe

Supporters of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos have urged her not to attend the July 25 hearing at the House of Representatives on the supposedly anomalous purchase of motor vehicles by the provincial government.

Roberto Dela Cerna, head of Katipunan ng Pilipinos Makabayan (KPM) and Kabataan Sandigan at Gabay ng Pilipino, Inc. (KASAGPI), argued that the issue involving Marcos was just politics.

"Halatang pamumulitika ang ibig nito. Kung kumpleto ang ebidensiya, bakit 'di sa Ombudsman at Sandiganbayan at Kataas-taasang Hukuman magsampa ng kaso?" Dela Cerna said in a news release on Monday.

"Marahil ang anumang pahayag ni Gobernadora Marcos ay wala nang magiging mabuting epekto sapagkat yari na ang kanilang desisyon. Nakakalungkot isipin sa kabila ng kapakaraming nagawa at napatunayan na ng mga Marcos ay may mga taong alipin ng inggit at nagpapagamit sa kapangyarihan ng ilan," he added.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is investigating the Ilocos Norte provincial government's alleged use of tobacco excise tax shares to purchase P66.45 million worth of motor vehicles.

It has issued a subpoena on Marcos directing her to appear on the July 25 hearing after she repeatedly failed to show up in previous proceedings.

Committee chair Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Marcos' appearance and participation in the inquiry would shed light on the issue they are investigating.

But if Marcos fails to attend the hearing again, Pimentel said "her arrest and detention is as sure as the sun rising tomorrow.”

For Philip Terry of Bayanihan Bayan Movers - Pangasinan Organization of Genuine Inhabitant (BBM-POGI), a lawmakers' job is to create laws.

"Alam natin na ang trabaho ng legislative [branch] is to make laws… Kung iyon ang tunay na layunin ng Committee, that would be good, pero kung ang purpose nila ay tulad ng ginawa nila sa 'Ilocos Six,' there's a risk. There is political vendetta," Terry said.

Harrold Toledana of the Buong Bansa Magkaisa (BBM) Youth Movement shared the same sentiment.

"Para sa 'kin, sana si Governor [Marcos], 'wag na siyang um-attend kasi para sa akin, pag-iipit na lang ito na ginagawa ng Kongreso sa kanya," he said.

Like KPM and KASAGPI, Toledana said it is more appropriate to bring the case to the courts.

"Wala iyon halong pulitika, masasabi nating very neutral kaya pabor kami kung Korte ang hahawak, mas okay siguro. Siyempre may husgado, may mga ebidensiya talaga. Hindi kagaya sa Kongreso, sinasabi nilang ebidensiya, puro photocopy lang naman," he said.

Marcos has already manifested her intention to cooperate in the July 25 probe.

“I have expressed my willingness to cooperate with the Committee on Good Government on the faith that the committee would conduct its current inquiry in accordance with the letter and spirit of Sec. 21, Art. VI of the Constitution—that the inquiry is in aid of legislation....," she said in a statement issued on July 2. —Erwin Colcol/KBK/KVD, GMA News