Ilocos Norte execs detained again for still not answering House panel

The six employees of the Ilocos Norte provincial government have been sent back to House detention for still refusing to speak about the allegedly irregular purchase of P66.45 million worth of motor vehicles, sending them back to detention.

The so-called “Ilocos 6” faced lawmakers again on Tuesday afternoon, their 22nd day inside the House premises after they were cited in contempt for their “dismissive” answers on queries about the provincial government’s use of tobacco funds to buy the vehicles.

Eden Battulayan, office-in-charge of the province’s accounting office, tearfully asked the House panel that they be released, saying they have been “very much depressed.”

Eden Battulayan, accountant at Ilocos Norte accounting office, gets emotional as she pleads for House officials to send them home. pic.twitter.com/TWxX05HkgE

— Aica Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) June 20, 2017

“[G]usto ko po sanang sabihin sa honorable body na ito, as of this date, as of this time, we’re very much depressed. Hindi pa po kami nakauwi sa aming pamilya, sir,” she said, as some of her female colleagues wiped their tears.

Battulayan made her plea when she was asked by Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas to check an audit observation memorandum (AOM) on the provincial government’s purchase of the vehicles.

She refused to answer, asking to be given “more time” because it was the first time she was seeing the AOM.

She got emotional as she addressed Fariñas, their former governor, telling him: “We are not in a position to answer questions right now kasi very much depressed, worried na worried na po kami.”

“Please, sir, maawa naman kayo. Pauwiin n’yo na lang po kami and we will come back any time na gusto n’yo. ‘Pag medyo stable na ang aming pag-iisip,” Battulayan added.

When they were brought into the hearing—scheduled supposedly to give them “one last chance” to come clean—the employees, through Bids and Awards Committee chair Pedro Agcaoili, said they will not be answering questions because their “preferred” lawyer, provincial board member Vicente Lazo, was unavailable that day.

Ilocos 6 refuse to take questions, say their preferred legal counsel, Ilocos provincial board member Vicente Lazo, is unavailable. pic.twitter.com/eynbIVzmgE

— Aica Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) June 20, 2017

Citing the plea made for the employees by Ilocos Rep. Imelda Marcos—which the panel turned down—House good government committee chair Johnny Pimentel reminded them that their detention could last up until June 2019, the end of 17th Congress, if they insist on not answering questions.

“Ako po ay humihiling sa inyo, dahil po doon sa hiling ni Ma’am Imelda Marcos na i-release na kayo. And I told her you will be released on this day, you can be with your families, as long as you will be able to answer the questions being addressed to you,” he said. “So again, for the last time … handa po ba kayo na sagutin ‘yung mga tanong?”

Speaking for his colleagues, Agcaoili reiterated: “Hindi po kami handa kasi wala ‘yung counsel namin.”

The other Ilocos Norte employees currently detained at the House are provincial budget officer Evangeline Tabulog, provincial treasurer Josephine Calajate, and Genedine Jambaro and Encarnacion Gaor of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.

Some lawmakers still tried to ask them questions, but the Ilocos 6 were eventually sent, one by one, back to detention.

Another hearing for the inquiry has been set for July 25, with a subpoena issued against Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.

Pimentel noted that the panel will issue an arrest warrant against the governor if she still fails to appear at the said hearing. — BM, GMA News