7 Ilocos Norte officials cited in contempt for absence in House panel hearing

Seven officials of the Ilocos Norte Capitol were cited in contempt over their failure to appear before the House panel hearing on the use of P66.45 million in tobacco funds to purchase motor vehicles.

The said officials skipped the two hearings conducted by the House committee on good government and public accountability over the past two weeks, upon a resolution filed by three lawmakers led by Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, who represents the province’s first district.

Among those cited in contempt are Ilocos Norte provincial treasurer Josephine Calajete and provincial budget officer Evangeline Tabulog.

Also included were Encarnacion Gaor and Genedine Jambaro, staff members of the Office of the Provincial Treasurer; Eden Battulayan, accountant IV in the Provincial Accounting Office; Pedro Agcaoili, staff member of the Provincial Planning and Development Office; and Joseph Castro, a general services officer.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, who was tagged by Fariñas in the alleged “highly irregular” use of funds, also failed to appear in the hearing.

Vice Gov. Eugenio Angelo Barba attended in her stead, saying Marcos is still on “medical leave.”

Committee chair Johnny Pimentel said they will issue a subpoena against her.

'Orchestrated movement'

Lawmakers scored the officials for their absence, saying there seemed to be an “orchestrated movement” among them to not attend the proceedings.

After being told that the officials had “apprehensions” over what information they were tasked to bring before the committee, Fariñas said that unlike Cabinet officials, they “do not have the executive privilege.”

“I believe the non-appearance of resource persons is deliberate,” Pimentel added.

Fariñas alleged that Ilocos Norte provincial officials were diverting part of the province’s share from excise tax on locally manufactured Virginia-type cigarettes to its “highly irregular purchase” of motor vehicles.

The money came from a “special support fund” for Virginia tobacco-producing provinces, as provided for by Republic Act 7171.

According to the law, the funds may be used for cooperative, livelihood, agro-industrial, and infrastructure projects.

Imee seeks clarification

The House good government committee eventually did not issue a subpoena against Marcos. The governor is instead expected to be invited to the next hearing.

Attending the hearing, Barba had with him a letter from Marcos, where she sought "clarification on important matters of concerns" about the inquiry.

Barba said he was "prevented" by Fariñas from reading Marcos' letter because it was not made under oath.

The governor asked about technicalities in the inquiry, including whether it also covered other Virginia tobacco-producing provinces, and what the committee intends to amend in R.A. 7171, noting that the hearings were being done "in aid of legislation."

Moreover, she said calling the transactions "highly irregular" was "unfair and unwarranted," and defended the said purchase.

She said assertion made in Fariñas' resolution was "ironic and most unkind" to Ilocos Norte's tobacco farmers and the provincial government.

"There was nothing improper or irregular with the transactions sought to be investigated by the Committee on Good Government and Accountability. The need for transport to increase productivity, market produce and facilitate access to livelihood and training projects, among others funded under Republic Act No. 7171 is germane to the purpose of the law," she wrote.

She added that the purchases "complied with all applicable laws" and procedures for procurement and bidding.

"With due respect, the use of such language as 'misuse' and 'irregular' in House Resolution No. 882 tends to convey bias and oppression—of pre-judging a subject of inquiry before any inquiry is done, which renders the inquiry vulnerable to allegations of abuse of authority, and even political persecution, or at the very least, propelled by interests other than the greater public interest," she said. —KG, GMA News