Mike Arroyo bookkeeper to raise Senate detention to SC

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Rowena del Rosario, the witness who was detained in the Senate, will bring the case to the Supreme Court and ask that she be released immediately from detention.

Rowena del Rosario. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“We are preparing the petition and we will file it at the Supreme Court,” Del Rosario’s lawyer, Nunilo Marapao said over the phone on Tuesday.

“Because the action is irregular. There is no basis so we will ask to produce her [Del Rosario] before the court,” he said.

Del Rosario was detained in the Senate for allegedly being evasive during Monday’s hearing of the blue ribbon committee on the alleged anomalous sale of used helicopters to the Philippine National Police.

The witness was the bookkeeper of Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, the president of the family-owned LTA Inc when it allegedly leased five helicopters from Lionair Inc,of which two were allegedly sold to the police.

Marapao lamented that her client was not treated fairly during the hearing when Del Rosario answered all the questions raised by senators, without invoking her right against self-incrimination.

“Sinasabi kasi agad na nangsisinungaling sya [They are accusing her immediately of lying]. She should have been allowed to explain her side…Parang inaapi sya [It looks like she’s being treated badly],” the lawyer added.