House committees cite in contempt Customs man in P6.8-b shabu probe

Aside from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, two House committees on Thursday also cited Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service officer Jimmy Guban in contempt for supposedly giving false statements in the inquiry into the P6.8-billion shabu smuggling incident in the country.

During the joint hearing of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs and Good Government and Public Accountability, Antipolo City Representative Romeo Acop moved to cite Guban in contempt for "not telling the truth in his testimony."

"Aside from lying to these two committees, the other reason is that since we are going to have another hearing on this issue, the Senate would be notified in so far as that we declared him in contempt," Acop said.

"[And] that after the Blue Ribbon Committee in the Senate would have finished, then we would have jurisdiction over Mr. Guban," he added.

House dangerous drugs panel Robert Ace Barbers said Guban violated Letter E of Section 11 of the Rules of House, for "acting in a disrespectful manner towards any member of the Committee or any misbehavior in the presence of the committee."

Guban likewise violated Letter C of the same section, Barbers said, for "refusing to answer any inquiry."

"Because of your non-cooperation sa committee na ito, kasi conflicting ang inyong statements, we will ask you to stay in the room prepared by the House of Representatives for resource persons who are cited in contempt after your extended stay in the Senate," Barbers told Guban.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee earlier made the same move against Guban for allegedly lying before the panel during the panel's own investigation into the shabu smuggling incident.

"If the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee releases Mr. Guban, he will have an extended stay in the confines of the House of Representatives and he will enjoy as well the contempt being issued by these committees," Barbers added. —NB, GMA News