Justices to handle Arroyo bookkeeper’s plea named

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals on Wednesday assigned an associate justice that would handle and write a decision on the petition for habeas corpus asking for the release of Rowena Del Rosario, a former bookkeeper for the Arroyo-owned LTA Inc. who was ordered detained by the Senate last Monday.

Appeals court Associate Justice Romeo Barza from its 11th division was named to handle Del Rosario’s case along with other CA Associate Justices Rosalinda Asuncion-Vicente and Edwin Sorongon.

On Tuesday, Del Rosario’s husband Rolly, through lawyer Nunilo Marapao, filed a petition for habeas corpus with the appeals court.

In his petition, he said the rights of Del Rosario as a witness have been violated when she was coerced to state a matter that is not within her personal knowledge.

“Mrs. Del Rosario was invited by the respondent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee as a resource person. Unfortunately, respondent Committee refused to accept her explanation and insisted that she say more to their satisfaction,” Marapao said in the petition.

Habeas Corpus is a summon with the force of a court order addressed to the custodian demanding that a prisoner be taken before the court and that it show proof that the person is lawfully being detained. If the custodian failed to prove its authority to detain the person, that person will immediately be released from custody.

Petitioner also noted that the contempt and arrest order issued by the Senate did not have the required majority because it was only issued by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

On Monday, the Senate blue ribbon committee cited Del Rosario in contempt and ordered her arrest for allegedly covering up for former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio Arroyo.